Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Joseon’s first global symbols set for Seoul homecoming
Hogi (tiger flag), left, and Jujakgi (red phoenix flag), used by a Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) delegation at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago / Courtesy of Riot Games
By Baek Byung-yeul
Five ceremonial flags that represented the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) during its historic debut on the world stage are set to return to Korea this winter following a comprehensive restoration process in the United States, according to video game developer Riot Games Monday.
The project, funded by Riot Games, focuses on five specific banners, including the "Hogi" (tiger flag) and "Jujakgi" (red phoenix flag) that were first unveiled at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. These artifacts have been housed at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum) for more than 130 years.
Unlike typical cases where artifacts are brought to Korea for treatment, these flags will undergo conservation directly at their current location in the U.S. to ensure their stability before the long journey home.
"The conservation process will be completed locally in the U.S., and the National Palace Museum of Korea will be the primary entity responsible for bringing these flags back in December," an official from Riot Games said.
"Once they arrive, the National Palace Museum of Korea plans to hold a special exhibition to showcase these restored symbols to the public."
Following the conclusion of the 1893 expo, many of the items on display were either donated or sold to various American institutions. Among them, Penn Museum purchased the Joseon ceremonial flags and has kept them in its collection.
Currently, the museum holds a total of 27 Korean artifacts from the Chicago World's Fair. The ceremonial flags, however, were found to be in such poor condition that they required urgent conservation, leading to the restoration project.
"Through this upcoming special exhibition, all 27 Korean cultural artifacts currently held by the University of Pennsylvania will be unveiled to the public for the first time," an official from the National Palace Museum of Korea said.
The restoration of these flags is significant as they represent the "visual language" of the Joseon court during its first official encounter with the Western world. They served as symbols of Joseon at a time when the nation was striving to establish its presence as a sovereign state on the global stage.
Riot Games has protected Korean cultural heritage abroad for years as part of its long-term social contribution efforts. Since starting its partnership with the Korea Heritage Service in 2012, the League of Legends developer has contributed to the repatriation of seven major cultural properties and the conservation of numerous royal artifacts.