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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Burned portrait of King Cheoljong returns to Busan after 72 years

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A damaged portrait of King Cheoljong, which survived a 1954 fire that destroyed two-thirds of the artwork, will be displayed in Busan.
  • The portrait, part of the Joseon Dynasty's royal portrait collection, was moved to Busan during the Korean War and was damaged in the fire at Yongdusan Mountain.
  • The exhibition will also feature other royal records and artworks, coinciding with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Busan.

A damaged royal portrait of King Cheoljong, which survived a devastating fire 72 years ago, is set to be displayed in Busan. The artwork, part of the Joseon Dynasty's collection of royal portraits, known as "eojjeong," was significantly damaged in the Yongdusan Mountain fire in Busan on December 26, 1954.

The fire, which started in a refugee settlement, quickly spread and engulfed a warehouse belonging to the National Gugak Center. This blaze destroyed over 3,000 cultural heritage items, including royal portraits, ancient musical instruments, and documents. While only King Yeongjo's portrait remained intact, those of Cheoljong, Sunjo, and Wonjong were partially burned, with much of the collection lost.

King Cheoljong's portrait, measuring over 2 meters in height and nearly 1 meter in width, is one of the largest surviving royal portraits. Created in 1861 by court painters, it was originally housed in Changdeokgung Palace before being moved to Busan for safekeeping during the Korean War. The fire destroyed two-thirds of the canvas, leaving only the right side. Although partially restored in 1987, it remains a poignant symbol of the lost heritage.

This damaged portrait will be a centerpiece of the special exhibition "To Be Passed Down for Ten Thousand Generations: The Record Culture and Court Arts of the Joseon Dynasty." Co-hosted by the Busan Museum and the National Palace Museum of Korea, the exhibition will run from July 7 to August 30. It will also feature King Yeongjo's portrait and the "Ilwolobongdo" (Sun and Moon Over Five Peaks) folding screen. The exhibition aims to showcase the pinnacle of Joseon Dynasty's record-keeping and artistic achievements, coinciding with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's meeting in Busan.

This special exhibition, prepared jointly by the Busan Museum and the National Palace Museum of Korea following Busan's confirmation as the host city for the World Heritage Committee last year, is a symbolic event marking the committee's meeting.

· Jeong Eun-wooDirector of the Busan Museum, describing the exhibition's significance.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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