A 14th-century bronze Buddha statue from Korea’s Goryeo-era, stolen by a South Korean theft ring from Kannon Temple on Japan’s Tsushima Island in 2012, will officially be returned to the temple on Jan. 24, marking the resolution of a 13-year-long dispute. According to the Korea Heritage Service and the Jogye Order, Japanese representatives, including Kannon Temple’s former chief priest, will visit the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in Daejeon in the morning to reclaim ownership of the statue. Following a 100-day public exhibition at Buseok Temple in Seosan, the statue will be transferred to Japan in May.
In 2012, the theft ring smuggled two statues from Tsushima. One, a standing Amitabha Buddha statue, was returned to Tsushima’s Kaijin Shrine in July 2015, as there were no ownership claims in South Korea. However, Buseok Temple asserted ownership of the seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue, citing a written record inside the statue stating it had been crafted at Buseok Temple in Seoju (modern-day Seosan) in 1330. Claiming it had been looted by Japanese pirates, the temple argued for its return. While the first trial court ruled in favor of Buseok Temple, the appellate court dismissed the claim, saying that the historical Goryeo-era Buseok Temple and the modern-day temple could not be considered the same entity. Furthermore, the court ruled that Kannon Temple had acquired ownership through adverse possession, as it had lawfully held the statue for an extended period before it was stolen in 2012. The Supreme Court upheld this decision in October 2023, emphasizing that the likelihood of looting during the Goryeo dynasty was insufficient to deny Kannon Temple’s ownership.
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, the return of the statue remained stalled for over a year until both temples recently reached an agreement. Buseoksa requested permission to hold a 100-day Buddhist ceremony with the statue before its return, and Kannon Temple accepted under the condition of guaranteed restitution. A handover ceremony is held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 24, attended by representatives from both temples, the Korea Heritage Service, Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, and the Jogye Order. Afterward, the statue will be transported to Buseoksa for public display. According to a Jogye Order official, “The statue will be returned to the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage by May 11, following Buddha’s Birthday ceremonies on May 5, and will then be sent to Japan.”
The dispute over the Tsushima statue has significantly strained cultural heritage exchanges between South Korea and Japan, with South Korean museums facing setbacks. To mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the National Museum of Korea had planned to borrow and exhibit major Korean artifacts housed in Japan, such as the “Mongyudowondo” (Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land) from Tenri University. However, Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs refused, citing the unresolved return of the Tsushima statue despite the Supreme Court ruling, as a barrier to lending Korean-origin national treasures and significant cultural properties. As a result, the exhibition plans were canceled.
Mediation by Joo Ho-young, deputy speaker of the National Assembly and chairman of the South Korea-Japan Parliamentarians’ Union, was reportedly key to resolving the impasse. A spokesperson from his office said, “After learning that negotiations to borrow Mongyudowondo had failed, we felt it was urgent to step in and earnestly persuaded both sides.” Cultural heritage experts remarked, “The stolen statue should have been returned long ago, but it is fortunate that the issue has finally been resolved.” They added, “We hope this will lead to a smoother resumption of cultural exchanges between the two countries.”
