South Korean Culture Minister announces audit of National Museum of Korea

South Korean Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young has announced a comprehensive audit of the National Museum of Korea following the resignation of former director Yu Hong-jun. The audit will investigate not only the alleged misuse of authority but also the entire process of managing and verifying exhibition items.

The controversy arose after a special exhibition featured a calligraphy piece by pro-Japanese collaborator Park Jung-yang, which was incorrectly identified as the work of patriotic activist Park Won-geun. It was further revealed that Yu had purchased the piece at an online auction for 50,000 won in 2019 and failed to disclose his ownership when recommending it for the exhibition.

Minister Choi stated that the incident has damaged the long-standing honor and public trust of the National Museum of Korea. He emphasized that the ministry intends to conduct a thorough investigation to restore this credibility.