Calligraphy by independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun fetches 1.3 billion won

Korean Heritage

Published: 28 Feb. 2024, 13:44

Calligraphy by independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun fetches 1.3 billion won

Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910) and his representative hand print. [JOONGANG PHOTO]

A work of calligraphy by revered Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910) that had never before been revealed to the public was auctioned off on Tuesday for 1.3 billion won ($973,000).

The sale, organized by Seoul Auction, took place at Boontheshop in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. The bidding for the piece, which was found in Japan and flown to Korea for the auction, opened at 600 million won.

The work, written in Chinese characters, means that “a person’s mind changes in the morning and in the evening, but the color of the mountain remains the same, before and now.”

Smaller writing on the side states that this has been written in Lushun prison in March 1910 and has Ahn’s distinctive handprint on it as well.

Ahn Jung-geun's calligraphy work, which had never been revealed to the public before, was auctioned off on Tuesday for 1.3 billion won by Seoul Auction. [SEOUL AUCTION]

The successful bidder was Hanmi Semiconductor, a company founded in 1980 by the late Kwak No-kwon, who died in December. Kwak, who was a descendent of an independence activist, is known to have had a patriotic heart. The company said it purchased Ahn’s calligraphy to honor its late founder.

A total of 31 calligraphy works by Ahn are currently registered as Treasures. One was auctioned off for 1.95 billion won in December by the same auction house.