Yoo Hong-jun, the director of the National Museum of Korea, announced his resignation on October 21. He stated that he is stepping down to take responsibility for the damage to the museum's trust and reputation caused by his personal mistake.
In a statement, Yoo said, "I hereby express my intention to resign from the position of director of the National Museum of Korea today."
He added, "The deep trust that the public has placed in the National Museum of Korea and the values built by our museum staff have been shattered in an instant due to my personal mistake. I want to reiterate that all criticism directed at me is entirely my responsibility." He concluded that resigning was the right decision to restore the museum's tarnished reputation.
Yoo apologized to the disappointed public, the families of patriots, and museum staff. He expressed hope that the significance of the special exhibition "Our Table," which museum researchers had diligently prepared, would not be diminished by this incident.
Reflecting on his tenure, he remarked, "Although my time was short at 15 months, being able to engage in the honorable task of preserving our cultural heritage has been the greatest blessing and honor of my life. I will not forget the hard work of the museum staff who have worked tirelessly for the museum's growth." He urged the public to continue their unwavering support for the National Museum of Korea, the heart of South Korea's history and culture, even as he departs.
Yoo's resignation follows controversy over his personal collection being featured in a special exhibition, where a piece was incorrectly attributed to a patriot's handwriting. The exhibition, which opened in July, included a work titled "Ilban Sigung" (一飯是國恩) that was initially credited to patriot Park Won-geun but was later confirmed to be the handwriting of pro-Japanese collaborator Park Jung-yang.
The revelation that the artwork was part of Yoo's personal collection sparked further concerns about inadequate verification of exhibition items and potential conflicts of interest. During a National Assembly audit on October 19, lawmakers from both parties criticized Yoo, who bowed in apology twice.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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