"Father..." Son Shed Tears, But Left "Devastated" After True Identity of Calligraphy Revealed

[SBS 8 News, August 13: An artwork previously exhibited at the National Museum of Korea as a piece of calligraphy by an independence activist was quietly removed. Suspicions arose that it might actually be the work of a pro-Japanese collaborator rather than an independence activist.]

The suspicions turned out to be true.

Following the SBS report, the National Museum of Korea formed an advisory panel for verification and concluded that the controversial piece is "not the calligraphy of patriotic martyr Park Won-geun, but the brushwork of pro-Japanese collaborator Park Jung-yang."

This comes about 20 days after the museum issued a public apology and moved to address the issue.

The advisory panel explained that, based on the characteristics of the brushstrokes, it can be regarded as Park Jung-yang's handwriting, and that a seal inscription he received from a calligrapher was also found on the artwork.

It was also confirmed that Park Jung-yang used the same given name as the late activist until he finished studying in Japan in 1903.

Contrary to the initial explanation that they failed to suspect it was a pro-Japanese work because of the word "Hanin" (Korean), the advisory panel pointed out that "it was a term frequently used by Japanese exchange students during the Korean Empire in front of foreigners," which is far from the trajectory of the activist's life.

Director-General Yu Hong-jun admitted that "the fundamental responsibility of fact-checking was inadequate" and promised to strengthen the verification process for exhibited items.

A museum official stated, "There is a complete lack of specialists in the Japanese colonial period at the National Museum of Korea," adding, "We will review plans to expand professional personnel."

The descendant of the late activist, who had shed tears of emotion believing the piece to be a family heirloom, expressed "dismay and deep regret," while also hoping that research into the "true independence movement" to uncover the noble traces of independence contributors will gain full momentum.

(Reported by Ahn Hee-jae | Produced by Lee Seyoung | Camera by Ha Ryung | Video Edited by Choi Hye-ran | Design by Choi Jae-young | Data provided by the Database of Korean History & Center for Historical Truth and Justice | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.