.jpg) |
Park Byeong-sen, a Korean-born French scholar who contributed to the return of Korea's ancient royal books from France died in a Paris hospital, Tuesday. She was 83.
Diagnosed with stage four rectal cancer in 2008, Park underwent surgery in Suwon, Korea, in 2010. She then returned to Paris for another procedure and post-operative care. She has dedicated her life to restoring the lost “Oegyujanggak,” royal books that detail the royal ceremonies and rites of Korea's Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).
The royal books, which were looted by the French during Byeonginyangyo, a French incursion in retaliation for the persecution of French Catholic missionaries in Korea in 1866, would have been lost forever without Park. In 1975, she discovered that the books were stored in the National Library of France (BNF) where she worked as a librarian and were incorrectly classified as Chinese documents.
Previously, in 1972, Park also discovered Korea’s “Jikjisimcheyojeol,” the world's oldest example of a book printed using moveable metal type, at the National Library of France. She proved that the book was 78 years older than Johannes Gutenberg’s first book from the Holy Roman Empire.
She was criticized by the library officials for publicizing confidential information. Park left the library and initiated the national campaign in Korea to urge France to return the invaluable documents. After years of grass-roots campaigning and diplomatic discussions, President Lee Myung-bak and Nicolas Sarkozy agreed during the G20 Seoul Summit last November to transfer the books on a five-year renewable lease.
Park was not satisfied with the lease and advocated that the documents should be fully returned to Korea.
The Korean government recognized her unrelenting efforts by awarding her the Order of Civil Merit, the Peony Medal, the second highest honor for civilians.
Park graduated from Seoul National University with a major in history education and left for France in 1955. After receiving a masters in history and religion from Paris-Sorbonne University, she worked at the BNF for over 13 years which led her to discover the Korean royal documents.
The Korean Embassy in France said it plans to build a memorial altar for the late Park, who was a naturalized French citizen, at a Korean cultural center.
The government is seeking to honor her remains at the National Cemetery, burial site for those who have received its highest honor. Bang Seon-gyu, the minister of cultural policy, said he had requested the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the institute in charge of the matter, to consider the scholar’s achievements for Korea and allow her to rest in the cemetery. Park had asked in her will to be cremated.
A funeral will be held in Paris before her remains are transferred to Korea. The National Museum of Korea will also erect a memorial site in its lobby for the public to pay their respects from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. today.
