Chief of national museum apologizes over wrongful attribution of item on display

The director of the National Museum of Korea, You Hong-june, has issued a formal apology after it was discovered that a calligraphic work from his private collection had been wrongly attributed and displayed at the museum. Speaking during an annual parliamentary audit, You expressed deep regret for the mistake, calling it a grave oversight that has shattered public trust in the museum.

The incident involved a piece titled "Ilbansigukeun," which was initially displayed as the work of Korean independence activist Park Won-geun, but was later found to have been written by Park Jung-yang, a pro-Japanese collaborator. Despite multiple apologies, critics have questioned the director's decision to exhibit personal items in the national museum, raising suspicions of attempting to inflate their value. The controversy has sparked widespread criticism within the cultural sector.

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