Rich heir funded mission for Korea's cultural soul

Jeon Hyeong-pil checks a pottery in this undated photo. / Courtesy of Kansong Art Museum

Biography 'Kansong Jeon Hyeon-pil' back in spotlight as this year marks the centenial anniversary of March 1 independence movement

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Jeon Hyeong-pil (1906-1962), better known by his nom de plume Kansong, was one of the nation's top 40 richest men of his time, thanks to the enormous wealth he inherited from his parents.

Unlike other rich people who were keen to preserve and even further increase their wealth, Kansong ― a combined word of two Chinese characters together which means "a pine tree sitting nearby a mountain creek" ― was not a money-savvy heir.

His priority was not placed on increasing his assets or leading a luxurious lifestyle.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. He used his wealth to finance his mission-driven project to collect a wide range of artifacts, from antiques and paintings to ceramic vases to calligraphy, which illustrated that Korea has a splendid cultural heritage.

Unlike other antique collectors, he was not self-indulgent. He gathered artifacts for his countrymen who came to lose their self-esteem after their country lost its sovereignty and their fate fell into the hands of imperial Japan.

Korean-American biographer Lee Chung-yeol's best-seller “Kangsong Jeon Hyeong-pil” describes Kansong's life well-lived in great detail, from his childhood to his lifetime passion for Korean cultural heritage.

The 2010 book was back in the spotlight recently as this year marks the centennial of the March 1 Independence Movement through which freedom fighters teamed up with grassroots to peacefully call for Korea's liberation from Japan's brutal colonial rule. On the occasion of the anniversary, some of the artifacts Kansong collected are being showcased at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul this month.

Kansong invested his wealth to build the storehouse named Bohwagak or “Hall of Splendid Treasures.” The construction was completed in 1939. Situated at the foot of a mountain in Seongbuk-dong, northeastern Seoul, the storehouse, which later became the Kansong Art Museum, is the nation's first private art museum.

Kansong began to collect antiques after he graduated from Waseda University in Japan. His father encouraged him to practice as a lawyer as he majored in law at the university. But the son chose to be an art collector. He found the joy of discovering valuable cultural assets in an old bookstore near his home and mingled with his mentor Oh Se-chang, an unrivaled connoisseur of his time.

He was concerned about the fallout of unauthorized excavations and looting, and the trade of stolen artifacts which was rampant during Japanese colonial rule. Many artifacts were sold to overseas antique dealers and collectors. He was worried that the loss of cultural heritage could lead Koreans to lose their self-esteem and cultural pride.

His passion for art collection reached its peak in the mid-1930s when he had an antique deal showdown with British lawyer and art collector John Gadsby.

The two greatest collectors of their times met to negotiate a package deal of 22 pieces of fine Goryeo celadon the British lawyer had collected for 20 years since 1914 when he first went to Japan for work. Gadsby, a Goryeo celadon aficionado, tried to resell the pieces as he was to return to England.

His initial price was 550,000 won, which was then roughly equivalent to the cost of 550 decent houses. It was way too expensive for Kansong who was willing to strike a deal for up to 330,000 won.

Two negotiators represented their bosses and sat down for talks, which if they reached a deal could set a record. But the two sides failed to narrow their differences.

Kansong and Gadsby met again later as the British lawyer's plan to resell his collection to the British Museum fell through. This time, the British collector lowered the price. His call was 440,000 and he showed no signs of backing off from this. If the negotiations were to fail again, the British man planned to meet rich Japanese collectors. Kansong felt Gadsby's initial call was still high. But he was anxious to purchase all of the Goryeo celadon pieces.

Kansong took him to the site of his storehouse which was then under construction, in order to appeal to Gadsy's heart.

“Mr. Gadsby, this will be the place where the Goryeo celadon will be stored if you and I reach an agreement on the package deal. My goal with this museum to be is clear. I'd like to let the next generation know that like Westerners, we Koreans also had splendid cultural heritage,” Kansong told the British lawyer.

The Korean also disclosed a little secret that he hadn't told to anybody before. Kansong said no one knew the storehouse under construction was to become a museum. If he mentioned its real purpose, he went on to say that the Japanese authorities, who were suspicious of possible public gatherings as they could make it easier for freedom fighters to organize collective action for Korea's independence movement, wouldn't approve of the construction project.

His patriotism and on-site presentation appeared to have impressed Gadsby. As a collector, he knew the joy of collecting antiques. The British lawyer changed his mind and said he was willing to sell 20 pieces for 400,000 won and he would like to keep two tiny pieces for himself.

The historic deal with the unprecedented price tag of 400,000 won was clinched. Twenty of the Goryeo artifacts were later designated as national treasures.

For people like Kansong who was a mission-driven art collector, collecting antiques is about much more than wealth or a hobby. Wealth is one of the conditions the collector must have. The collector also needs to have art acumen high enough to distinguish authentic artifacts from fakes. Patience and persistence are other key assets for collectors because in art deals, playing a waiting game is part of negotiations. Jeon was a rare collector who met all these tricky conditions.