Park Chung-hee, why did he give a Chang Seung-up painting to the US Ambassador?

President Park Chung-hee surprised a U.S. ambassador in 1961 by gifting him a high-quality wooden picture frame, crafted with Japanese techniques yet produced in Korea. This was no ordinary present, as Japanese-style lacquerware was the "standard" in Korean lacquerwork at the time. The ambassador, Samuel Baker, received a particularly prized cultural item—an authentic artwork by Kim Soo-jin, a renowned Korean artist—complete with Park's signature.

Baker's position as Minister of Foreign Affairs was of higher rank than the ambassador, but he received a more valuable gift, indicating the esteem in which Park held him. This diplomatic gesture marked Baker's significant contribution to Park's rise to power during the 1961 coup. Baker's support was crucial as he later reversed the coup's decision, paving the way for Park's recognition by the United States.

The United States, through missionaries, aid workers, and diplomats, played a pivotal role in transporting Korean artworks abroad. These collectors, driven by benevolent intentions, unknowingly contributed to the export of cultural artifacts. The author, Kim Sun-ji, highlights how this exchange between East and West was a result of discriminatory attitudes towards Asia, reflecting the complex relationship between imperial power and cultural exchange.