The royal seals of Queen Munjeong and King Hyeonjong, which were illegally removed from Korea, returned to the country in July 2017, thanks to the successful collaboration between the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was also the result of collective efforts by the National Assembly of Korea and private organizations.

The Joseon Dynasty prepared royal seals with honoric titles when deeds of a king or a queen were reappraised during their lifetime or posthumously, or when a king, a queen, a crown prince, or a crown princess was installed in his/her position. These seals were not used for state affairs, but was enshrined at Jongmyo (Royal Ancestral Shrine) following the death of the owner. 

Some of those seals at Jongmyo were stolen and taken out of Korea illegally during the Japanese occupation (1910–45) and the Korean War (1950–53). Both the Korean government and private sectors have invested a lot of resources in their recovery and recently, such efforts have come to fruition. 

The National Palace Museum of Korea is honored to present these seals to the public and hopes this exhibition will be an opportunity to cherish this historical moment and appreciate the signicance of the restitution of our national heritage.