Bookplates belonging to an Anti-Japanese general from the late Joseon era have finally returned to South Korea after being held in the U.S. for over 50 years.
Bookplates that had flowed to the U.S., belonging to anti-Japanese general Cheokam Kim Do-hwa, have returned to South Korea after more than 50 years, as announced by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Foundation for Cultural Heritage Abroad on August 8. At a donation ceremony at the Korean Imperial Legation in Washington, D.C., these historic wooden printing plates were gifted by collectors in the U.S., reflecting their significance to Korean cultural heritage.
The notable item is the 'Cheokam Teacher’s Collected Works' bookplate dated 1917, originally used to print Kim Do-hwa’s works during the Eulmi Uibyeong Rebellion of 1895. Initially, there were over 1,000 of these plates, but only 19 remain in Korea today, all recognized as a UNESCO World Documentary Heritage in 2015. This marked the first time such bookplates were returned to Korea, revealing the circumstances surrounding cultural property exportation during the 1970s and highlighting the international connections formed around Korean heritage.
Furthermore, the 'Songja Daejeon' bookplate, belonging to the Confucian scholar Song Si-yeol, was published in 1787 and holds significant historical and cultural value. Its return reflects growing efforts to recover cultural artifacts and underscores the importance of preserving national heritage, particularly as discussions on repatriation and recognition of artifacts continue globally. The return of these bookplates not only enhances the Korean cultural landscape but also serves as a cornerstone for ongoing dialogues regarding the repatriation of lost treasures.
