Royal archives to return home in 4 shipments

By Chung Ah-young

Royal books from the Oegyujanggak archives of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), looted during an 1866 French incursion, will return home after a 145-year-absence through four deliveries between March 28 and May 31.

Korean delegations from the National Museum of Korea signed an agreement with the National Library of France in Paris on Wednesday to fly back 297 volumes of the ancient books. The first shipment of four is expected on March 28 and the final transfer will be completed on May 31.

This move follows French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s agreement to return the books on a five-year renewable lease basis during the G20 Seoul Summit last November. The accord includes technical conditions on the return process from Paris to Seoul.

As the new keeper of the books, the museum will form a research team specialized in the Joseon Kingdom’s royal documents, including royal protocols called “uigwe” and follow adequate preservation techniques and exhibition conditions as well as maintain research facilities.

In June it will hold a grand celebration before the opening of the books’ public exhibition in July at the museum.

The Oegyujanggak books, including protocols of royal ceremonies and rites from the Joseon Kingdom, were taken by French troops in 1866 when they invaded an island in retaliation for the persecution of French Catholic missionaries.

The books were stored at the National Library of France and went unnoticed until a Korean professor, Park Byeong-seon, found them incorrectly classified as Chinese documents in 1975. One of the books was returned to Korea on a permanent lease basis in 1993 by then French President Francois Mitterrand.