'Ex-president refused to obtain royal seals from US'

Royal seal of Queen Munjeong of the Joseon Dynasty / Korea Times file

Former Buddhist monk, lawmaker blast ex-President

By Park Jae-hyuk

Former President Park Geun-hye could have secured the return of two ancient royal seals, looted during the Korean War (1950-53), back to Korea during her visit to the United States in 2015, but did not do so for dubious reasons, those familiar with the issue said Monday.

According to Buddhist monk Hye Moon, Park could have received the seals, which date from the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the seals was made in 1547 to honor Queen Munjeong (1501-1565), the third wife of Joseon Dynasty's 11th king, Jungjong.

But Park, who was impeached due to the corruption scandal involving her close aide Choi Soon-sil, did not bring the seals back during her term.

The U.S. government returned the seals only after her successor Moon Jae-in visited the United States last month.

"The U.S. asked Korea's prosecutor general to make an official request for the seals because they were looted," said Hye Moon, who spearheaded efforts to repatriate the seals. "Former prosecutor Kim Jin-tae did so to gain U.S. approval.

"Park did not try to get the seals for unknown reasons although the U.S. was willing to return them. I suspect then-secretary Woo Byung-woo played a role in this. Woo was said to be at odds with former prosecutor general Kim. Hence, Woo might not have wanted the latter to gain credit for the seals."

Woo was former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, a position that practically controls the prosecution. There were reports that his relationship with Kim, who is senior to Woo, was not good.

When contacted, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) rebuffed the claim.

"The two seals were seized in 2013 but related litigation lasted through 2016," said an official of the government agency. "So it was impossible to get them back in 2015."

Hye Moon claimed the government did not put forth enough effort.

"Things were similar for the nine items, which former U.S. President Barack Obama brought here in 2014," Hye Moon said. "The government then put forth efforts to speed up the process for the items; but this time it did nothing to get the two seals back, and I don't know why."

Hye Moon is famous for starting a campaign to convince the United States to return nine stolen Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) seals in early 2014.

The nine are comprised of three state seals, which Joseon kings used on diplomatic and other important documents, and six ceremonial seals that royal families used in rituals.

Rep. An Min-suk, a four-term lawmaker with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, joined forces with Hye Moon to spearhead a campaign to retrieve the two seals at issue.

"It is well known that Park hated me so much because I raised suspicions involving her and Choi for the first time in April 2014," An said. "No doubt she would not have wanted to give me credit for the two seals. As far as I know, the government was reluctant to get them back."

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