This specialist exchange with the Tokyo National Museum was the NMK's first regular academic exchange program with an overseas museum.

In 2002, the National Museum of Korea and the Tokyo National Museum signed the “Agreement on Academic and Cultural Exchange, Collaboration, and Other Activities”. Since this agreement, the two museums have been exchanging specialists. The museums recently expanded the scope of personal exchange to two specialists for up to two weeks, and they continue to expand efforts in diverse research fields. Under the program, the museums have held numerous academic seminars, workshops, staff meetings, and co-investigation of ruins and artifacts.