Seoul, South Korea – The Korea Post Office has announced the issuance of commemorative stamps on April 24th to celebrate the repatriation of several significant cultural artifacts. These stamps feature images of the former Korean Legation in Washington, D.C., a woodblock printing plate from the collection of the independence fighter Kim Dohwa, the imperial seal of Emperor Gojong, and documents related to the late Joseon Dynasty's Righteous Army.
The selection of these items was based on a comprehensive survey conducted by the Cultural Heritage Administration. As of January 1st, over 240,000 cultural assets are known to be located outside of Korea, scattered across 29 countries. These artifacts were often removed from the Korean Peninsula due to theft, looting, trade, or as gifts.
The former Korean Legation in Washington, D.C., was purchased with funds provided by Emperor Gojong and served as the diplomatic mission of the Korean Empire from 1889 to 1905. Repatriated in 2012, it is now managed by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation.
The woodblock printing plate from the collection of Kim Dohwa, an independence fighter, is one of over 1,000 plates created around 1917 for the printing of his literary works. Repatriated from Germany in 2019, it is now housed at the Korean Classical Literature Institute.
The imperial seal of Emperor Gojong was used for secret letters sent to France, Russia, Germany, and Italy as the emperor sought to resist Japanese imperialism. Purchased by the National Palace Museum in 2009, it has since been designated as a national treasure.
The documents related to the Righteous Army consist of 13 items, including letters, notices, and dispatches. These documents provide valuable insights into the activities of the late Joseon Dynasty's resistance movement against Japanese colonial rule. Repatriated from Japan last July with funds from the Recovery Fund, they are now housed at the National Palace Museum.
By issuing these commemorative stamps, the Korea Post Office aims to raise public awareness of the importance of cultural heritage and the ongoing efforts to repatriate these valuable artifacts.
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