Abstract
Modern public museums are expanding its role as general cultural facilities. Therefore, the museums that are equipped with convenient and physical environmental features for all ages and types of users are needed. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the application of universal design in common space of the museums and to recommend a set of environmental improvement plans based on which various types of users can decide their choice of museums based on available data on the museums. The scope of this research was limited to seven major public museums located in Seoul, Korea. The spatial scope that was set for this research was common space of the public museums and the scope of the content was about the applicability of universal design. As a result of the research, three major conclusions were reached. First, the application of universal design toward common space in the public museums currently was not prevalent. Second, constant management and application development of universal design are needed. Third, as museums' primary roles and functions become more diverse, a direct application of delicate universal design is a necessary prerequisite to accommodate and fulfill users' needs.
