Thought It Was a Patriot’s Calligraphy, But Possibly a Pro-Japanese Collaborator’s? National Museum Issues Apology

"Ilbansigeun" Displayed as Park Wongeun's Work; Family Paid Respects on Their Knees
Park Jungyang's Courtesy Name Was Also "Wongeun"; Verification Neglected by Relying Solely on 2019 Auction Record

"It felt as though my father had come back to life."

Recently, Mr. Park Yonghyun, son of the late patriot Park Won-geun, who visited the National Museum of Korea, is sobbing in front of the calligraphy "Ilbansigeun (一飯是國恩)." Photo provided by the person

On July 25, the son of the late independence activist Park Wonkeun visited the special exhibition "Our Table" at the National Museum of Korea and knelt in front of a calligraphy piece displayed in the center of the gallery. Having never possessed even a single keepsake from his father, he broke down in tears as he gazed at the inscription that read "Ilbansigeun (一飯是國恩)." The museum also introduced this work as a handwritten calligraphy piece by Park himself.

However, in just over two weeks, suspicions arose that the author of the work might not be the independence activist, but instead Park Joongyang, a figure known for pro-Japanese collaboration. The National Museum of Korea hurriedly removed the work on August 10, and Director Yoo Hongjun issued an official apology on August 12.

The disputed "Ilbansigeun" is a phrase reportedly left by Monk Yeonggyu, who led monk soldiers during the Japanese invasions of Korea, and it means "Even a single bowl of rice is the grace of the nation." On July 1, the museum introduced it as a piece of calligraphy written by Park Wonkeun (1912–1950), an independence activist from Boeun, North Chungcheong Province, in the special exhibition "Our Table."

Park Wonkeun was a figure who engaged in anti-Japanese clandestine activities during the Japanese occupation and endured several terms of imprisonment. After he passed away in 1950 in the National Bodo League Incident, it became known that almost no personal belongings survived. For this reason, when the bereaved family first encountered the piece, many media outlets described the moment last month as "traces of a father found after 76 years."

The controversy began on August 10, when Joo Euncheol, publisher of Jecheon News Journal, reported that "The 'Park Wonkeun' inscribed on the work may not refer to the independence activist but to Park Joongyang." The museum immediately withdrew the piece and initiated expert verification. The spot where the piece was displayed is currently covered up.

Yoo Hongjun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, posted an apology titled "Apology for Insufficient Verification of Special Exhibition Items" on the museum’s website on the 12th. Director Yoo apologized to the family of patriotic activist Park Wonkeun and visitors for failing to accurately identify the creator of "General Situation," an item exhibited in the special exhibition "Our Table." He also stated that the provenance of artifacts will be cross-verified from multiple angles in the future. National Museum of Korea website

The claim is supported by evidence. According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, the courtesy name (ja) of Park Joongyang (1874–1959), a known pro-Japanese collaborator, is "Wongeun" (源根). Park Joongyang served as a member of the Central Council of the Governor-General of Korea, Governor of Hwanghae Province, Governor of North Chungcheong Province, Vice President of the Central Council, and an appointed noble in the House of Peers of the Imperial Diet of Japan during the occupation. During the March 1st Movement, he organized a self-restraint group in Daegu to suppress independence activities. In the 1935 "Who's Who of Distinguished Service in Korea," he was listed as one of the key figures who contributed to colonial rule.

The National Museum of Korea's basis for considering the work to be a calligraphy piece by Park Wonkeun lay in an art auction record from 2019. At the time, the work was auctioned as a handwritten calligraphy piece by the independence activist Park Wonkeun, and the museum included it in the exhibition based on that record. However, it was later revealed that the museum had essentially accepted the existing auction record as fact without sufficiently cross-verifying the signature, personal history, and provenance of the work.

In his apology, Director Yoo stated, "We reflect on the insufficient verification procedures for the exhibits," adding, "From now on, we will cross-verify the provenance of artifacts from multiple angles." He also expressed his apologies to the bereaved family and visitors, stating, "We sincerely regret the confusion and disappointment experienced by the family of Park Wonkeun, who believed and honored the piece as their ancestor’s artifact."

However, it has not yet been definitively confirmed that Park Joongyang is the true author of the work. The National Museum of Korea has officially stated only that "it is possible the piece may have been written by Park Joongyang," and expert verification is still underway.

This controversy has also raised concerns about the procedures for verifying the provenance and authorship of exhibited artifacts. "Our Table" is a large-scale special exhibition organized by the National Museum of Korea to shed light on the history and significance of Korean food culture, and it will continue until October 25.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.