Gov't appeals for restraint as visitors swamp former Korean legation in Washington

The government on Wednesday appealed to the Korean-American community to show restraint, as curious visitors have swamped a historical building in Washington, D.C. that was used as the Korean legation building more than a century ago, following news on the government's purchase of the building.

"The building's owner is complaining about a flood of interview requests and visitors to him," the Cultural Heritage Administration said in a statement.

"Please take it into consideration that there remains legal procedures, including transferring ownership to the South Korean government," it said.

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the National Trust for Cultural Heritage said on Tuesday that they have signed a contract that would have the country regain its ownership of the former legation building 102 years after it was forcibly taken over by Japan and sold to an American.

Korea was a colony of Japan from 1910 to 1945.

The building is the only former overseas establishment set up in the late years of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) that has retained its original shape.

Timothy L. Jenkins, a U.S. lawyer, bought the building in 1977 and has lived there since then. He sold the property to the Seoul government for US$3.5 million, according to the heritage administration. (Yonhap)