Ahn's calligraphy 'Independence' remains in limbo despite repatriation effort
A provincial government’s bid to bring home “Independence,” a calligraphic work by Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun, remains stalled as officials struggle to reach a deal with its Japanese holder. The Gyeonggi Provincial Government said Friday that its yearlong effort to secure the work’s return has yet to yield a result, adding that it will continue talks through the end of the year as…
A provincial government's attempt to recover "Independence," a calligraphic work created by Korean independence advocate Ahn Jung-geun, has hit a dead end. Talks with the item's current Japanese owner have yet to materialize, according to officials from Gyeonggi Province, who disclosed on Friday that the year-long quest for the artifact's return remains unresolved.
The officials emphasized that negotiations will persist until the conclusion of the year, as this marks the 81st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Ahn, an honored figure in Korean independence movements, inscribed the calligraphy at Lushun Prison just prior to his execution in 1910 for assassinating Ito Hirobumi, Japan's inaugural prime minister and administrator in Korea, at Harbin Station the preceding year.
He subsequently handed the work to a Japanese guard, who subsequently bestowed it upon Ryukoku University in Kyoto, where it is presently lodged. Gyeonggi Province's officials had anticipated a seamless negotiation process. In 2025, Korea commemorated the 80th anniversary of its liberation from Japan.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
