Why did You Hong-june resign as director of the National Museum of Korea?

You said he was stepping down to restore the museum’s tarnished honor and took responsibility for the criticism. The controversy involved a calligraphic work from his private collection that the museum wrongly presented as the work of an independence activist.

What happened to the misattributed calligraphy at the National Museum of Korea?

The work was written by a prominent pro-Japanese collaborator during Japan’s 1910–45 colonial rule of Korea, but was introduced as the work of a Korean independence activist. The museum removed it from its ongoing special exhibition after the controversy emerged.

What positions did You Hong-june hold before becoming National Museum of Korea director?

You headed the Cultural Heritage Administration, now called the Korea Heritage Service, from 2004 to 2008. He later became director of the National Museum of Korea in July last year.

National museum chief resigns over misattributed work from private collection

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Summary

You Hong-june resigned Wednesday as director of the National Museum of Korea after President Lee Jae Myung accepted his offer to step down over a misattributed calligraphic work from his private collection. The museum had displayed the work as that of a Korean independence activist before it was identified as the writing of a pro-Japanese collaborator, and later removed it from a special exhibition. You said he was stepping down to restore the museum’s tarnished honor and accepted responsibility for the criticism.

Key Facts

You apologized twice and bowed before lawmakers during a parliamentary audit on Monday.
You led the Cultural Heritage Administration, now the Korea Heritage Service, from 2004 to 2008.
He became director of the National Museum of Korea in July last year.
You described his 15 months at the museum as an honor and asked the public to continue supporting the institution.
You said museum researchers had prepared the Our Dining Table exhibition with great care over a long period.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 21, 2026 9:04 pm KST
Updated Oct 21, 2026 9:17 pm KST

You Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea, listens to questions from lawmakers during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap

You Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea, resigned Wednesday amid a controversy over the museum's display of a misattributed calligraphic work from his private collection.

He offered to resign earlier in the day, and President Lee Jae Myung accepted his resignation.

You came under fire after the piece, written by a prominent pro-Japanese collaborator during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, was wrongly introduced as the work of a Korean independence activist and was found to be from his private collection.

The museum removed the item from its ongoing special exhibition following the controversy.

In a statement sent to reporters, You said he has concluded that he should step down "to restore the museum's tarnished honor."

"The deep trust the public has placed in the National Museum of Korea and the value our staff has built collapsed in an instant because of my personal mistake," he said. "All criticism over this matter is entirely my responsibility."

You, a prominent art historian and author of the bestselling book series "My Exploration of Cultural Heritage," apologized twice and bowed before lawmakers at a parliamentary audit on Monday. However, calls for his resignation persisted from figures in the cultural sector and opposition politicians, who said an apology was insufficient to take responsibility for the fiasco.

You served as head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, now the Korea Heritage Service, from 2004 to 2008 before becoming director of the museum in July last year.

He once again made a public apology, saying he was "deeply sorry" to the people who had been disappointed, to the bereaved family of the independence activist, and to museum staff.

"Although it was a short period of 15 months, being able to take part in the honorable task of protecting the value of our cultural heritage was the greatest blessing and honor of my life," You said.

Referring to the "Our Dining Table" exhibition, he said, "I hope the significance of the exhibition, which museum researchers prepared with great care over a long period, will not be overshadowed.

"I will not forget the efforts of the staff who worked day and night for the museum's growth," You added, asking the public to continue to support the museum so that it can make further progress.

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