순국 직전 안중근 의사 글씨 돌아왔다…‘만국공법불여대포’ 공개

The National Cultural Heritage Foundation recently unveiled a physical copy of Korean independence activist An Jung-geun's (1879-1910) handwritten work, '만국공법불여대포' (The International Law is Worthless Against Heavy Guns) at the Dongguk Palace in Seoul's Jung-gu on the 13th. This artifact gained attention earlier this month when Huh Min, Director General of the Presidential Office, disclosed its existence during a briefing at the Blue House.

The unveiling took place in the presence of Huh Min and Park Je-hyung, the foundation's chairwoman and chairman, respectively. The inscription reads, '만국공법(국제법)이 대포만 못하다,' which means the International Law is powerless against heavy guns. An Jung-geun, who assassinated Japanese foreign minister Itō Hirobumi (1841-1909) after serving as a soldier and demanding a fair war crime trial under international law but was sentenced to death by the Japanese, penned this sentiment.

Notably, the left-bottom corner of the document bears An Jung-geun's signature, which is clearly visible. Above it, the date '庚戌三月 於旅順獄中 대한국인 안중근 서' (March 26, 1910, in the Lumshun Prison during the Korean Independence Movement) is written, indicating the document was created just days before his execution on March 26, 1910. The foundation notes that An Jung-geun's unique writing style, characterized by a mixture of cursive and block script, is evident in this work, particularly in the powerful force of his arguments.

Furthermore, when compared to other works attributed to An Jung-geun, this document shares similar calligraphy, arrangement of characters, and speed of brush strokes, leading experts to classify it as an authentic piece. The reverse side of the document reveals information about the first owner, the handover process, and the person who preserved the manuscript during his imprisonment, providing insight into how the artifact was treated during An Jung-geun's incarceration.