Kansong Art Museum Director Jeon Ingeon to Be Summoned by Police on December 11 as Fraud Suspect

Four Production Companies File Criminal Complaints and Civil Suits for Damages
Exhibition Was Hosted by "KMM Art Consulting," Not Kansong Art Museum
Director Jeon Explains, "Financial Difficulties Due to Plummeting Visitors Amid State of Emergency"

The Seoul Jungbu Police Station announced on December 5 that Jeon Ingeon, Director of the Kansong Art Museum, will be summoned for questioning as a suspect on fraud charges on December 11.

Kansong Art Museum

According to the police, Director Jeon is accused of failing to pay settlement fees to four production companies that participated in an exhibition he hosted as a sole proprietor this past August. The exhibition in question was reportedly organized not under the Kansong Art Museum or the Kansong Cultural Heritage Foundation, but under "KMM Art Consulting," for which Director Jeon serves as the representative.

The production companies stated, "We repeatedly requested settlement after the exhibition ended, but the payment was not made." In addition to filing a criminal complaint, they have also pursued civil litigation, including claims for damages.

After the lawsuit became public, Director Jeon issued a statement on the same day, explaining the delay was due to financial difficulties caused by a sharp decline in visitors. He said, "The number of visitors plummeted due to the state of emergency, and the exhibition ended before breaking even, which worsened KMM's financial situation. As a result, the payments were delayed."

He added, "I apologize to the public for tarnishing the reputation of the Kansong Art Museum," and pledged, "I will cooperate sincerely with the investigation to clear up any misunderstandings."

Director Jeon is the grandson of Jeon Hyeongpil, the founder of the Kansong Art Museum, and currently serves as both the museum's director and the chairman of the Kansong Cultural Heritage Foundation. The Kansong Art Museum, established in 1938 by Jeon Hyeongpil-renowned for his efforts to protect cultural assets during the Japanese colonial period-is Korea's first private art museum.

Although the legal distinction is clear since the exhibition was hosted by a private business rather than the museum, concerns have been raised that the incident could damage the symbolic value of "Kansong."