Fate of French-Held Korean Art Unclear

The “Oe-Gyujanggak Collection Exhibition” to be held in Korea through an agreement between Korean and French Prime Ministers made at a meeting in Paris on June 8 is not satisfying from the Korean standpoint, which has demanded the return of the collection.

Exhibiting the collection in Korea should be regarded as distinct from negotiating its return to Korea. This implies that France would exhibit the collection in Korea for a certain period as its “owner.”

The French government only promised to hold the exhibition “for a long term” in September and to make it “regular” in the future. It is not clear whether they will send all of the 296 books they are holding to Korea and whether they will let Korea keep the collection after the exhibition. They said specific procedures will be decided in a meeting between Korean and French Ministers of Culture.

Some think this agreement is not really an “agreement,” but rather a “suggestion” by the French side. There was no pre-discussion between Korean and French staff on the issue of holding the exhibition in Korea. A source from the Korean government said, “We went to the meeting to pursue digitalization of the collection and continue cultural exchange with our opinion of seeking the return of the collection. However, France suggested an exhibition unexpectedly.” This could be interpreted as a “gift” for the Korean Prime Minister who visited France to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Korea-France Friendship Treaty.

Some evaluate the exhibition as “meaningful progress” although it is still far from the goal. The government and private delegation’s 14-year efforts to negotiate with France did not bear fruit. When Jang Jae-ryong, an ambassador from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, visited France this February as the representative for the collection return negotiation, France only promised to allow digitalization of the collection and to simplify procedures for browsing the collection.

Dong-Keun Keum gold@donga.com