[Anchor]

The Director of the National Museum of Korea, Yoo Hong-joon, has resigned. He stepped down amid mounting criticism over displaying a piece of calligraphy from his personal collection—which turned out to be the work of a pro-Japanese collaborator—under the false claim that it belonged to a patriotic independence activist, a controversy dubbed a "self-exhibition."

Reporter Kim Gyeong-hui has the details.

[Reporter]

During a parliamentary audit, National Museum of Korea Director Yoo Hong-joon bowed his head in apology over the controversy surrounding the self-submission of pro-Japanese calligraphy, but refrained from mentioning the word resignation.

[Yoo Hong-joon / Director, National Museum of Korea]: "I will make sure such a mistake never happens again..."

[Yoon Yong-keun / People Power Party Lawmaker]: "Do you consider that taking full responsibility?"

[Yoo Hong-joon / Director, National Museum of Korea]: "I believe the system needs to be completely overhauled."

However, just two days later, he expressed his intent to step down, stating, "I have reached the conclusion that stepping down is the right thing to do to restore the tarnished honor of the museum."

This comes 15 months after taking office.

Previously, it was confirmed that a piece of calligraphy exhibited at the National Museum of Korea as the work of independence activist Park Won-geun was actually written by a pro-Japanese collaborator. It was further revealed that this artwork was a personal item Director Yoo had purchased through an online auction for 50,000 won and that he had personally recommended it for the exhibition.

Director Yoo stated that the deep trust the public placed in the National Museum of Korea and the values built up by the museum staff collapsed in an instant due to his mistake, adding that all criticism rests entirely on his shoulders.

An art historian by training, Director Yoo gained widespread recognition through his book series "Cultural Heritage Wandering Journey," but has faced multiple controversies in his public service career.

During his tenure as Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, he held a luncheon event using heating equipment at a royal tomb where cooking was prohibited, and also purchased and distributed his own books using the agency's budget.

He also faced criticism for being on an overseas trip with sightseeing characteristics during the Sungnyemun Gate fire.

Following this incident, which erupted just as the National Museum of Korea leaped to become the world's third-largest museum in terms of visitor numbers, calls are growing to overhaul the verification systems for artifacts and exhibits.

(Video Journalist: Oh Se-gwan, Video Editing: Kim Ho-jin, Design: Han Heung-su)