Former head of the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), Bartomeu Mari Ribas, took up the post of director of South Korea’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) on Monday.

Mari said in a news conference at the government complex in Seoul that he would not simply import a foreign model for museums, but would invent a new model of museums that is respected in the public domain.

Mari dismissed media reports on his alleged censorship during his tenure at the Barcelona museum, saying that he stands against all kinds of censorship and supports the freedom of expression.

Mari will serve three years as director until 2108. He is the first foreign native to lead any institute under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.