Returned royal seals to go on display
The National Palace Museum will exhibit from May 18 to Aug. 8 the nine Korean royal seals that were returned from the United States last month, six decades after they were taken during the Korean War (1950-1953).
By Kim Tong-hyung
An exhibition at the National Palace Museum will highlight the royal seals of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) that were returned from the United States last month, six decades after they were taken during the Korean War (1950-53).
The exhibition will open on Tuesday and continue through Aug. 3. The nine royal seals brought back from the U.S. include three seals of the Korean Empire and five signets of the Joseon royal court.
Among them is the Hwangjejibo (Seal of the Emperor), a national seal made upon the establishment of the Korean Empire in 1897 by King Gojong of the Joseon Kingdom. The seal is deemed highly significant historically as it symbolizes King Gojong's will for independence.
“They are previous Korean cultural assets that symbolize the king's efforts to demonstrate worldwide the dignity of an empire and build an independent state,’’ the Cultural Heritage Administration said.
The seals were seized in November by U.S. customs authorities from the family of a deceased U.S. war veteran who served in the Korean War and were repatriated during U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Seoul for talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye last month.