National Museum of Korea director offers resignation after misattributed calligraphy scandal
You Hong-june has offered to resign after a calligraphic work from his private collection was mistakenly presented as created by a Korean independence activist, later identified as the work of a pro-Japanese collaborator, prompting its removal from the museum’s exhibition.
The director of the National Museum of Korea, You Hong-june, submitted his resignation amid criticism over a misidentified calligraphic piece displayed in a special exhibition. The artwork, originally claimed to be by a Korean independence activist, was later proven to have been written by a well-known collaborator with the Japanese colonial regime. The museum responded by taking the item down. The controversy has sparked debate over curatorial practices and historical accountability within cultural institutions.
Why it matters
The case highlights the importance of rigorous verification in cultural institutions and the sensitivity of historical narratives in Korea.
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