"Reconsideration Needed for Ban on Exporting Cultural Heritage"

[Anchor]

Arguments have been raised that the ban on the export of our cultural heritage needs to be reconsidered. The suggestion is that as global interest in Korean culture grows, cultural assets should be made more easily accessible for appreciation abroad.

Report by Lee Ju-sang.

[Reporter]

Having suffered the pain of cultural heritage being taken overseas during the Japanese colonial period, South Korea still prohibits the export of ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, and crafts created before 1945 as a general rule.

However, with global interest in Korean culture on the rise, the antique art industry argues that simply blocking exports is not the only solution.

[Ahn Sung-chul / Head of the Jongno Branch, Korea Antique & Art Association: Even items like Buncheong plates or white porcelain plates worth 300,000 won cannot be taken out right now, realistically speaking. They are not granting permits.]

[Gong Sang-gu / CEO of My Art Auction: I fear that we can no longer promote our high-status cultural heritage abroad with the logic that everything is precious—citing historical, artistic, and academic value without even a monetary threshold—and asking, 'Where is there anything that isn't a cultural asset?']

Legal issues have also been raised regarding the current regulations.

[Lee Yu-kyung / Lawyer: There is no way to verify the legality of the preparation or execution of an export. Furthermore, the exporter must decide the type of procedure based on their own judgment.]

Critics also point out that the punishment regulations violate the principle of proportionality.

[Lee Yu-kyung / Lawyer: A prison sentence of three years or more is a penalty typically reserved for cases where someone has died or been seriously injured.]

The Korea Heritage Service maintains a negative stance on easing the regulations for overseas exports.

[Lee Hee-jung / Cultural Heritage Appraiser, Korea Heritage Service: Once an artifact is taken overseas, it is practically impossible to track its whereabouts. If its value is re-evaluated later and an attempt is made to repatriate it, it would require significant time and cost.]

The antique art industry is calling for a harmonious policy that balances the protection of cultural heritage with the globalization of our traditional culture.

(Video reporting: Bae Moon-san, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Park Sun-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.