Yu Hong-jun resigns as National Museum of Korea director

Yu Hong-jun, the director of the National Museum of Korea, has announced his resignation following a controversy involving his personal collection. The issue arose during the museum’s special exhibition, ‘Our Table,’ where a piece of calligraphy titled ‘Ilban Siguk-eun’ was incorrectly identified as the work of independence activist Park Won-geun.

Investigations later revealed the calligraphy was actually written by Park Jung-yang, a figure known for pro-Japanese activities. It was also disclosed that the item was part of Yu’s personal collection, which he had purchased at an online auction in 2019. This led to intense criticism regarding improper verification processes and potential conflicts of interest, as Yu had personally recommended the piece for the exhibition.

During a National Assembly audit, Yu apologized to the public, the families of independence activists, and museum staff, stating that his personal mistakes had damaged the museum’s reputation and trust. He noted that while he intended to donate the piece to an institution after the exhibition, the failure to properly verify the authorship and disclose his ownership was a significant error.