Artifacts from Tongyeong Anjeongsa Missing for Over 100 Years
"Various Measures Needed Including Investigation and Interpol Search"
It has been revealed that there are 18,311 national heritage items that have not been recovered for more than 20 years after being stolen or looted.
On the 22nd, Min Hyung-bae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Gwangju Gwangsan-eul), analyzed the national audit data submitted by the National Heritage Agency and found that out of 21,309 national heritage items reported stolen or looted before 2003, only 2,998 items (14.1%) had been recovered as of September this year. This means that nearly 9 out of 10 items have not returned to their original place for over 20 years.
The longest unrecovered national heritage items are relics from Anjeongsa Temple in Tongyeong. They were stolen in 1916 and have yet to be recovered. The original draft of Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Nanjung Ilgi, stolen in 1928, has also not been found.
Compared to this, the recovery rate of relatively recently reported stolen or looted national heritage is better. Among 9,247 items reported since 2004, 3,952 items, or 42.7%, have been recovered. As of the end of September this year, out of 30,556 stolen or looted national heritage items, 23,606 items, or 77.3%, remain missing.
Among the unrecovered national heritage items so far, 113 are nationally designated heritage, including 1 national treasure and 13 treasures. In particular, the national treasure Sowon Hwagaecheop was stolen in 2001, and although the police issued an international warrant through Interpol, it remains elusive. Additionally, 1,580 city and provincial designated heritage items have still not been recovered.
Nationally designated heritage refers to important cultural heritage classified as national treasures, treasures, historic sites, and national folk cultural heritage. City and provincial designated heritage are cultural heritage recognized for preservation value within the jurisdiction of city or provincial governors. Non-designated heritage refers to cultural heritage not designated by the national or city/provincial authorities.
Representative Min stated, “We must not leave long-unrecovered heritage abandoned simply because it is realistically difficult to find,” and emphasized, “Related agencies should actively cooperate in recovering national heritage that has not been found for a long time by utilizing various methods such as cooperation with investigative agencies and Interpol warrants.”
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