Independence Activist Song Jin-woo's Father’s Poem Plaque Returns from Japan

Kim Kang-won, CEO of Cheonggodang, Purchased and Donated at His Own Expense
Wrote a Classical Poem Praying for the Prosperity of Descendants

A signboard inscribed with a poem by Song Hun (1862?1926), the founder of Damyang School, is returning from Japan.

Johyunmyogakwoon Commercial Release

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation announced on the 19th that they received a donation of the “Johyeonmyogakun (鳥峴墓閣韻)” poem signboard from Kim Kang-won, the CEO of the Japanese antique art dealer “Cheonggodang.” The poem signboard refers to a signboard inscribed with a poem.

The “Johyeonmyogakun” poem signboard measures 50 cm in width and 34 cm in height. It is estimated to have been made between the mid-19th century and the early 20th century to commemorate the newly built Myogak (a building constructed beside a tomb for ancestral rites) in Johyeon. Johyeon is an old place name located in Gwangdeok-ri, Changpyeong-myeon, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do.

The poem is a classical Chinese poem wishing for the prosperity of descendants. At the end, it states “Respectfully written by Sujuk Song Hun (守竹宋壎謹稿),” confirming that Song Hun composed it. According to the newly compiled Song family genealogy, “Sujuk” was Song Hun’s pen name.

Song Hun was the biological father of Goha (古下) Song Jin-woo (1890?1945), an independence activist during the Japanese colonial period. According to the 1990 biography of Song Jin-woo, Song Hun used his personal funds to establish the modern Damyang School and sent his son to Yeonghak School (英學塾) in Changpyeong, Damyang-gun, to study new academic subjects. A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, “It is presumed that the ‘Johyeonmyogakun’ poem signboard was written by Song Hun while interacting with local figures in the Johyeon area of Damyang-gun in the past.”

Donation Ceremony Event

This is the third time CEO Kim Kang-won has donated Korean cultural heritage, following the “White Porcelain Blue-and-White Kim Gyeong-on Tomb” and the “White Porcelain Blue-and-White Lee Seong-rip Tomb” in 2022. After confirming Song Hun’s name, he purchased the item at his own expense and expressed his intention to donate it to the foundation.

The Cultural Heritage Administration held a donation ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, on the same day and presented a plaque of appreciation to CEO Kim. Kim said, “Many people work hard for cultural heritage, but I only did a small thing,” adding, “I will continue to strive for the repatriation of cultural heritage.”

The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to bring the donated poem signboard into the country next month. It will be stored at the National Palace Museum of Korea and later displayed through exhibitions and other events.

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