The outrage over the Forbidden City allowing an SUV to park on its premises despite a years-long ban continues to grow, prompting an apology from the curator of the 600-year-old site. Wang Xudong on Monday released an apology days after photos of two women posing next to a car inside the complex triggered national condemnation. The UNESCO World Heritage Site banned in 2013 cars from entering its grounds. Wang explained that the couple had been attending an authorized event last Monday, when the venue is usually closed to the public. The curator said the vehicle was parked at a temporary parking lot which had not been originally chosen for the event, and revealed that two officials have been suspended from their duties over the incident. The parking lot was made by modern construction materials as opposed to ancient materials by the rumor.

　　21日凌晨，故宫博物院官方微博发布了该院院长王旭东向公众的致歉信。他在信中写道：“近期发生的‘开车进故宫’事件引发社会高度关注，引起公众对故宫文物保护的担忧，我代表故宫博物院再次向社会公众诚挚道歉!”

　　据介绍，1月13日，经过故宫博物院批准的闭馆日活动有200余人参加。因原定停车场车位已满，该院相关部门引导车辆停放时，临时改变停车位置，未严格执行报批的接待方案，将原定的西华门内西河沿停车场，变更为午门内金水河南侧临时停车场。该区域地面是历年来不断更新的现代材料，多年来一直作为闭馆时段的车辆通道和闭馆日活动的临时停车场所。

　　王旭东表示，此次事件反映出该院在内部管理和社会服务中存在的短板不足。经研究决定，对负有领导责任的故宫博物院分管副院长和保卫处处长停职检查。该院将汲取教训，以此为戒，全面加强管理，认真进行整改。对故宫内所有车辆通道、停放场所进行排查，确保不对故宫文物造成损害，确保故宫安全，全力守护好故宫，为社会提供更多更好的公共服务。