Aspirations for Independence :
National Seal of the Korean Empire,
60 -Year Journey Back Home

Numerous seals were made for the rulers of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) and the subsequent Korean Empire (1897-1910). Of these, royal seals (Eobo) were used for state rituals and ceremonies while national seals (Guksae) were used for governmental and royal household affairs. Some of these precious seals were smuggled out of the country along with numerous other treasures during the turbulent period that saw the fall of the Korean Empire.

This special exhibition displays nine seals, including the National Seal of the Korean Empire and royal seals of the Joseon Dynasty, which were smuggled to the United States during the Korean War and were only returned to Korea very recently.

Now safely returned home for inclusion in the nation’s valuable national heritage, the seals are regarded as tangible evidence of the desperate efforts of Korea’s rulers and their people to establish and maintain an independent sovereign state in the early years of the 20th century. The treasures were recovered in 2013 after a joint investigation by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea and the Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) of the United States, and brought to Korea by US President Barack Obama when he visited Korea on April 25, 2014.

It is hoped that this exhibition will give visitors an opportunity to appreciate the historical and cultural value of this long absent national heritage thanks to the close cooperation between the Korean and American governments.