Korea`s 16th-century royal seal returns to Korea next month

The Royal Seal (a ceremonial seal to represent authority of the royal family) of Queen Munjeong in the Joseon Dynasty, which was taken out to the U.S. during the Korean War, will come home to Korea in 65 years around the Lunar New Year’s Day next month. King Hyeonjong’s seal will also be returned in March.

“The royal seals of Queen Munjeong and King Hyeonjong kept by the Homeland Security Investigations in Washington will be returned home in February and March respectively,” New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Rep. Ahn Min-seok on a visit to the U.S. said in a phone interview with the Dong-A Ilbo. “The two governments of Korea and the U.S. are coordinating the final date of return around the Lunar New Year’s Day, the auspicious day in Korea, since the return of Queen Munjeong’s royal seal represents taking back the Korean people’s spirit.” The ceremony for return will be held in Washington and attendees will include Korean ambassador to the U.S. Ahn Ho-young and Buddhist monk Hyemun, according to the lawmaker.

Once owned by Korean artifact collector Robert Moore, the Royal Seal of Queen Munjeong has been kept at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. King Hyeonjong’s seal was possessed by the art collector, confiscated by the Homeland Security Investigations in September 2013 and has been under investigation. The two royal seals were taken out by the U.S. soldiers during the Korean War and became Moore’s collection.

The U.S. president Barack Obama agreed to return nine royal seals of the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire during his latest visit to Korea in April last year, but the two seals were not included in the list of artifacts to be returned.

The Royal Seal of Queen Munjeong, the wife of Joseon Dynasty’s 11th King Jungjong and the mother of King Myeongjong, is made of gold and has a handle in the shape of a turtle. Carved on the seal side is the queen’s eulogistic posthumous title, "Great queen of the wise and honorable king." The Royal Seal of King Hyeonjong, which was made in 1651 under King Hyojong’s reign, is made of jade and also has a turtle-shaped handle. The seal is engraved with "seal of crown prince."