Jeon Du-hwan Folding Screen Seizure Headache... Glass Wall with Urn Included

Seizure of Folding Screens and Paintings 4 Years Ago
Large-Scale Construction Inevitable Surrounded by Glass Walls

Seoul City seized a folding screen inscribed with the inauguration speech of the late former President Jeon Du-hwan four years ago to cover his unpaid local taxes and even attached a "yellow sticker," but it is reported that enforcement has not been carried out to date. Photo by JTBC

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] The Seoul Metropolitan Government attempted to seize a folding screen inscribed with the inauguration speech of the late former President Jeon Du-hwan to cover his unpaid local taxes. However, it has been reported that the folding screen is enclosed within a glass wall in the living room of his residence, with the former president's urn and portrait placed in front of it, making the seizure execution difficult.

According to a JTBC report on the 1st, the folding screen containing the 5,500-character inauguration speech from September 1980 is embedded within the glass wall of the former president's living room.

Previously, in 2018, the Seoul Metropolitan Government entered his residence to cover approximately 980 million KRW in unpaid local taxes and seized nine items, including this folding screen and paintings, marking them with so-called "yellow tags."

Photo by JTBC News screen capture

However, the disposal of the seized items was delayed, and after the former president's death last year, the Seoul government resumed the disposal procedures.

Last month, the city visited the former president's residence to appraise the folding screen and confirmed that it is enclosed within a glass wall. Since large-scale construction is unavoidable to execute the seizure, concerns have been raised that the seizure may be difficult due to cost issues.

Photo by JTBC News Screen Capture

It was also confirmed that the former president's portrait, chrysanthemums, and urn are placed in front of the folding screen. The former president's remains are reportedly kept at the residence as a burial site has not yet been found.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that it plans to finalize the decision on whether to dispose of the seized items once the appraisal value and repair costs are calculated.