Japan Returns Bukgwan Victory Monument

The Bukgwan Monument of Victory, which was stolen by imperialist Japan and kept in the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, came back to Korea on October 20 via Incheon International Airport after 100 years. The monument was returned to its home country 27 years after Korean-Japanese historian Choi Seo-myun, the chief director of the International Institute of Korea, first discovered it at the shrine and launched campaigns for its restoration. Relocated to the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the Bukgwan Monument of Victory will be open to the public after holding a traditional announcement ceremony on October 21. The Bukgwan Monument of Victory is a triumphal monument built in 1707 (the 34th year of King Sukjong) to commemorate Jeong Moon-bu, the head of a loyal force, and his defeat of Japanese troops at Gilju, North Hamgyeong Province during the Japanese invasion of Korea in the late 16th century. The monument was stolen by Japanese forces in October 1905 during the Russo-Japanese War.

Won-Gun Shin laputa@donga.com