[Photo] Lost royal bamboo scrolls return to Korea after 152 years

A six panel royal bamboo scroll thought to have been destroyed during the French invasion of Ganghwa Island in 1866 returned to Korea on Jan. 31st after they were purchased through a joint effort by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Cultural Heritage Administration, using a donation from the company Riot Games. The bamboo scroll was a document recording Queen Shinjung’s marriage (1808-1890), and was stored in the royal library. In June of last year, an employee with the OKCHF discovered it was being auctioned off with an opening price of 1500 Euros (US$1850). France, and contacted the Cultural Heritage Administration to intervene. Following protracted negotiations with the scrolls’ owner, a selling price of 190,000 Euro (US$232,500) was agreed, and the scrolls were returned to Korea. They will be housed at the National Palace Museum of Korea.