This is "Box with Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl Plum, Bird, and Bamboo Design," assumed to have been made in the late Joseon Dynasty. This relic is part of an exhibition at the National Palace Museum of Korea running from July 7 to Sept. 25.
By Jung Joo-ri and Yoon Sojung
Photos = Cultural Heritage Administration
An exhibition in Seoul features pieces of Korean cultural heritage that used to be scattered throughout the world in countries like Japan, Germany and the U.S.
The Cultural Heritage Administration on July 6 said the National Palace Museum of Korea will host "Treasures of Ours Treasured by Others: Journey of Korean Cultural Heritage" to mark the 10th anniversary of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation.
Slated for July 7 to Sept. 25, the exhibition shows about 40 items of cultural heritage returned to the country after being taken abroad.
Select items are on display to the public for the first time, including "Box with Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl Plum, Bird, and Bamboo Design," which was returned from Japan last year, "A Compilation of Calligraphy by Joseon Kings" and "White Porcelain Tube-shaped Bottle with Design in Copper Underglaze," both of which were returned from the U.S. in March this year.
Among these three items, the bottle was a relic from the Joseon era kept by Stanley Smith (1876-1954), an American missionary who lived in Korea. This item is considered an important case study of a relic being taken out of Korea.
"A Compilation of Calligraphy by Joseon Kings" is a collection of handwritings by Joseon kings considered exceptional because it was originally published as a book in 1722 but revised in 1725 with additional material.
The exhibition also shows six relics previously displayed to the public only once, including "Gathering of Officials at Dokseodang Hall," which was returned from the U.S. this year, "Armor with Leather Lining," retrieved from Germany 2018, and "Stone Sculpture of a Civil Official," also from Germany in 2019.
Visitors to the museum can also see three royal seals stolen during the Korean War and returned in 2014 thanks to help from the U.S. government during a bilateral summit that year. They are Seal of an Emperor, Seal of Royal Orders and Seal of Royal Appointment.
Museum Director Kim In Kyu said, "We prepared (this exhibition) to look back on the outcomes of our efforts (to get back our cultural heritage) and again consider the importance of their return."
"We wanted to show as much as possible not only the beauty of each cultural asset returned to us but also the difficult process of getting them back."
(From left) Seal of an Emperor, Seal of Royal Orders and Seal of Royal Appointment
etoilejr@korea.kr
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