Portraits of Yi Sun-sin and Yun Bong-gil Revealed as Works by Pro-Japanese Artists... Controversy Over Copyright Fees Passed Down Through Generations

[Image source = Im Okyeong, Democratic Party of Korea, National Assembly Audit Press Release]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] It has been revealed that the 'Government Standard Portraits' of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and activist Yun Bong-gil were created by pro-Japanese artists.

Since the copyrights of these works belong to the portrait-producing institutions or the painters, if their works are designated as 'Government Standard Portraits,' the pro-Japanese collaborators who created them and their descendants will receive unearned income. Im Oh-kyung, a 49-year-old member of the Democratic Party of Korea, immediately called for the revocation of the designation of these works and emphasized the need to reestablish historical awareness.

According to data released on the 27th by Im, a member of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, 14 out of the 98 'Government Standard Portraits' officially recognized by the government were painted by pro-Japanese artists.

The Government Standard Portrait system is operated under the Portrait and Statue Deliberation Regulations of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and since the first designation of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's portrait in 1973, a total of 98 portraits have been designated up to the portrait of King Muryeong in 2018.

The issue is that the painters of the standard portraits include pro-Japanese collaborators such as Idang Kim Eun-ho (1892?1979), Unbo Kim Ki-chang (1913?2001), and Woljeon Jang Woo-seong (1912?2005). These individuals are listed as so-called 'pro-Japanese artists' in the Report on the Truth of Pro-Japanese Anti-National Acts and the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators.

According to the data, the total number of standard portraits created by these artists is 14, and among the works are portraits of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and activist Yun Bong-gil.

Representative Im stated, "Considering that Government Standard Portraits represent figures who are nationally revered by our people, it is not appropriate for portraits painted by artists who engaged in pro-Japanese acts to be designated by the state and passed down to descendants. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should actively take the lead in revoking these designations and correcting historical understanding."