The authenticity controversy surrounding 'Jeungdo Gaja,' believed to be a metal type from the Goryeo Dynasty, has resurfaced during a national audit. There are calls for the National Heritage Agency to conduct a swift and objective re-evaluation, as it could serve as tangible evidence predating the 'Jikji Simche Yojeol.'
During the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit on October 23, Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Gye-won criticized the National Heritage Agency for its passive stance, noting that the review process for designating Jeungdo Gaja as a national heritage has been delayed for 16 years.
Jo stated, "This is a golden opportunity to enhance the international status of South Korea's cultural heritage," questioning the involvement of committee members who previously voted against the designation in the re-evaluation process.
Nam Kwon-hee, a professor at Kyungpook National University who has discovered and researched Jeungdo Gaja, pointed out the lack of expertise in the review process. He mentioned that approximately 40 researchers participated in verifying the typeface, metal composition, carbon dating, and printing issues in 2024. Despite this, he criticized the Cultural Heritage Administration for re-investigating the printing issue without relevant experts and allowing committee members with no research background in typefaces to decide on the designation.
The National Heritage Agency's plan to solicit additional types beyond the existing 101 for verification was also scrutinized. Jo questioned whether this was a procedure aimed at rejection, while Nam argued that verifying the existing 101 types took over a year, claiming that the additional solicitation is essentially a delay tactic.
Democratic Party lawmaker Lim O-kyung urged that a re-investigation of the existing 101 types should be prioritized based on the results of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and that committee members involved in past reviews should be excluded. In response, Heo Min, the director of the National Heritage Agency, expressed full agreement with forming a new committee. He added, "We will completely reconstitute the review process for the 101 types and ensure thoroughness."
Jeungdo Gaja has been embroiled in authenticity disputes since its public unveiling in 2010, leading to the rejection of its designation as a treasure in 2017. The issue of re-evaluation has resurfaced following the audit results from the Board of Audit and Inspection.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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