[2022 National Audit] "Only 1,086 Cultural Properties Repatriated in the Past 10 Years"

Only Eleven Points Last Year... Lax from the Initial Survey

[Image source=Yonhap News]

There are approximately 210,000 Korean cultural properties located abroad, including in Japan. However, only 1,000 cultural properties have been repatriated over the past decade.

According to data from the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation disclosed on the 11th by Lee Gae-ho (Democratic Party), a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, the number of Korean cultural properties located in 25 countries totals 214,208. The country holding the most is Japan (94,341 items), followed by the United States (54,185 items), Germany (15,402 items), and China (13,000 items).

Repatriation occurs through donation, purchase, delivery, loan, or legal enforcement. Over the past 10 years, 1,086 cultural properties have been returned. In 2019 and 2020, 349 and 344 items were repatriated respectively, but last year only eleven items were returned.

The preliminary survey, which should precede repatriation efforts, was inadequate. Since its establishment in 2012, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation has surveyed 47,103 cultural properties over 10 years, accounting for only 22% of the total.

At the Cultural Heritage Administration’s national audit on the same day, Representative Lee emphasized, "Considering our modern history, most of these were likely illegally or unjustly taken out," and stressed, "Active efforts for repatriation through thorough surveys and diplomatic negotiations are necessary."

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