Reporters are taking pictures of the official uniform of Choi Ik-hyeon of Myeon-am at the event to unveil the recovered cultural heritage held at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Jongno-gu, Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Korea Bizwire) - A comprehensive survey has revealed that approximately 247,718 Korean cultural artifacts are currently housed outside their country of origin, having left Korea through various means including theft, looting, trade, and gifts.
According to a joint report released on February 4 by the National Heritage Administration and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, as of January 1, 2025, these artifacts are distributed across 801 institutions, including museums and art galleries in 29 countries, comprising 116,961 distinct collections.
The total number represents an increase of 1,414 pieces compared to January of last year, when 246,304 items were documented.
Japan holds the largest share of these cultural artifacts, with 108,705 pieces – approximately 43.9% of the total – housed in various cultural institutions, including the Tokyo National Museum, as well as in private collections. The United States follows with 65,860 pieces (26.6%), Germany with 15,477 (6.2%), China with 14,226 (5.7%), and the United Kingdom with 12,778 (5.2%).
Officials note that these numbers could be even higher, given that many cultural institutions do not fully disclose their holdings.
The National Heritage Administration and the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation, with the support of Riot Games last year, recovered the amount of money believed to have been taken from the Seonwonjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace. (Image provided by National Heritage Administration)
The dispersal of Korean cultural heritage occurred throughout modern history, particularly during periods of political upheaval. While many pieces left the country through theft and looting, authorities acknowledge that others were transferred through legitimate transactions, donations, gifts, or ended up in private collections.
In recent efforts to repatriate items believed to have been illegally exported, the National Heritage Administration and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, with financial support from Riot Games, successfully recovered a hanging plaque believed to have originally been displayed at Gyeongbokgung Palace’s Seonwonjeon shrine, which housed portraits of Joseon dynasty kings.
Looking ahead, the National Heritage Administration has announced plans to expand its investigations. The agency will conduct surveys of Korean cultural artifacts at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and the National Diet Library in Japan. Next year, investigations will extend to eight additional institutions, including the Peabody Essex Museum in the United States and the University of Tsukuba Library in Japan.
Status of Korean cultural heritage located overseas as of January 2025 (Image provided by the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation)
The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation also plans to strengthen its repatriation strategies through its overseas offices in Japan, the United States, and France, focusing on monitoring illegal exports and coordinating investigations specific to each country’s circumstances.
Image credit: the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation, National Heritage Administration, Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
