U.S. returns looted royal seals to South Korea
ROYAL SEALS. This picture shows Kim Yeon-Soo (L), director of the National Palace Museum of Korea, and South Korean lawmaker An Min-Suk (C) posing with Thomas Homan (R), acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, during a handover ceremony of two ancient Korean royal seals at South Korea's Embassy in Washington. Photo by Yonhap/AFP
SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean President Moon Jae-In is returning from an official visit to Washington with two ancient royal seals looted during the Korean War, reports said Saturday, July 1.
The repatriation of the Chosun dynasty antiques, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, comes after years of campaigning by the South Korean government, which said they were stolen during the turbulent 1950-53 war.
Moon received the seals during a ceremony in Washington during a visit to the US Friday, June 30, and was due to arrive in South Korea with them on Sunday, July 2, Yonhap news agency said.
The Chosun dynasty, who cultivated a ruling philosophy drawn from Confucianism, governed from 1392 to 1910, when Japan colonized the country.
One of the seals was made in 1547 to honor Queen Munjeong (1501-1565), the 3rd wife of Chosun Dynasty's 11th king, Jungjong.
The other is a jade block created in 1651 to commemorate the installation of the crown prince of King Hyojong.
They were seized by US authorities in 2013 after Seoul clarified these were stolen items.
It marked the 3rd time that Washington has returned South Korean treasures.
In 2013 the United States sent back Korea's first money printing block made in late 19th century and the following year, it handed back 9 royal seals.
Tens of thousands of old Korean cultural items were spirited abroad during Japan's colonization of Korea from 1910-45 and the Korean War. – Rappler.com
