Domestic artworks produced in 1946 or after can now be freely sold or displayed abroad. Shown is the Korea International Art Fair (KIAF) in September 2023 at COEX Mall of Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. (KIAF's official website)

By Charles Audouin

Domestic artworks produced in 1946 or after can be freely sold or displayed abroad.

The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said its amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Cultural Heritage Protection Act took effect on July 23.

The amendment changes the production date standard for general movable cultural heritage from "50 years or more since production" to "produced before 1945." Thus works made in 1946 or after can be taken or exported abroad without restriction.

In principle, items designated general movable cultural heritage cannot be sent abroad unless permission is granted for their use in international cultural exchange like at overseas exhibitions.

Such heritage deemed to have historical and artistic preservation value include records, books, woodblocks, paintings, sculptures, crafts, and archaeological and folklore materials that are not designated or registered under the Cultural Heritage Act. Works by living creators are also excluded.

On the amendment, the KHS said, "It is expected to open export routes for many works of modern and contemporary art and spread the outstanding value of K-cultural heritage to the world."

From January 24, 2025, the agency plans to effectuate a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Cultural Heritage Protection Act so that general movable cultural heritage can be taken abroad for use in investigation and research as well as at exhibition. 

caudouin@korea.kr