[2020 National Audit] "Over 12,700 Cultural Properties Stolen in the Last Decade... Only 16% Recovered"

Im Oh-kyung, Democratic Party Lawmaker, Releases Cultural Heritage Administration Data
"Increase Crackdown Teams and Strengthen Cooperation with Related Agencies to Eradicate Illegal Trade"

Source: Office of Assemblywoman Im Ok-kyung

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Over the past decade, more than 12,700 cultural properties in South Korea have been stolen, and about 84% of them have not been recovered, revealing gaps in cultural property management.

According to data disclosed on the 11th by Im Oh-kyung, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, obtained from the Cultural Heritage Administration, a total of 12,749 cultural properties were stolen in South Korea from 2010 to 2019, of which only 1,972 cases, or 15.5%, were recovered.

By category, 9 nationally designated cultural properties were stolen, with 2 recovered; 329 metropolitan/provincial designated cultural properties were stolen, with only 5 recovered. For non-designated cultural properties, 12,411 were stolen, and only 1,965 were recovered.

Representative stolen cultural properties include the calligraphy of Prince Anpyeong, the third son of King Sejong of Joseon, titled 'Sowonhwagaecheop' (National Treasure No. 238), the calligraphy of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun (Treasure No. 569-4), and the finial (lotus bud-shaped ornament) of the stone lantern at Baekjangam of Silsangsa Temple in Namwon, built in the third year of King Heungdeok of Unified Silla (Treasure No. 40).

The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "Most stolen cultural properties are non-designated items such as old books and Buddhist statues owned by temples or specific clans. These stolen cultural properties are often hidden for long periods, and after the statute of limitations (10 years) has passed, they are secretly circulated, making recovery difficult."

Assembly member Im said, "Cultural properties are the essence of our national culture and must be meticulously preserved and protected by the government. The current three-person enforcement team of the Cultural Heritage Administration should be expanded to actively recover stolen cultural properties, and illegal transactions must be eradicated through cooperation with related organizations such as cultural property trading companies."

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