Yoo Hong-jun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, Resigns Amid Controversy Over Display of Calligraphy by a Pro-Japanese Collaborator: "It Is All My Responsibility"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Yoo Hong-jun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, has expressed his intention to resign.

In a statement released on the 21st, Yoo stated, "I am expressing my intention to step down from the position of Director of the National Museum of Korea today."

He added, "The deep trust that the public has placed in the National Museum of Korea and the value built up by our museum staff have been shattered in an instant due to my personal mistake. I have reached the conclusion that it is right for me to step down from the directorship in order to restore the museum's damaged honor."

He further stated, "I would like to clearly state once again that all criticism up to this point is entirely my responsibility."

Previously, the National Museum of Korea has been holding a special exhibition titled "Our Table" since July. Among the exhibited works, it displayed a calligraphy piece titled "One Meal Is the Nation's Grace" and introduced the author as independence activist Park Won-geun.

However, after it was suggested that the name Park Won-geun inscribed on the calligraphy might be another name used by pro-Japanese collaborator Park Jung-yang, the work was immediately removed in August. Subsequently, the calligraphy was finally confirmed to be a work by Park Jung-yang.

The museum stated that the work in question was part of Director Yoo's personal collection. However, it is reported that Director Yoo had believed the work to be by Park Won-geun, not Park Jung-yang. The museum posted an apology stating, "We express our sincere regret for the confusion and loss experienced by the bereaved family of patriotic independence activist Park Won-geun."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original