A Man Who Saved the Spirit of Goryeo
John Gadsby British lawyer from the early 20th century known for his collections of exquisite Goryeo celadons he had purchased over the course of 20 years during his visits in Japan and Joseon. In February 1937, Gadsby was getting ready to sell 22 pieces of the finest Goryeo celadons from his collection. Upon hearing the news, a Korean man in his early thirties travelled to Japan in hopes to buy the celadons. The man was captivated by the beauty of Korea’s invaluable relics including a duck-shaped celadon water-dropper used for Oriental calligraphy and giraffe-shaped celadon incense burner.

The asking price of the Goryeo celadons began at 500 won and quickly soared to 14,580 won a piece, which was too high of an amount given that the price of a tile-roofed house was 1,000 won at the time. The Korean man, however, was determined to purchase the collection and convinced Gadsby to sell the relics by showing him the construction site of the Kansong Museum that was being built in Seoul. Motivated by the thought that the Goryeo celadons must be brought back to the country of origin, the Korean man successfully bid for the relics at the price of 400,000 won, equivalent to current market value of 120 billion won. The man who succeeded in collecting Korea’s invaluable national treasures was none other than Chun Hyung-pil, better known as the guardian of Joseon spirit.

The Life of Kansong, a Guardian of Korea’s Relics
Chun Hyung-pil was born into a wealthy family in Jongno, Seoul in 1906. In 1929, Chun graduated from the Waseda University in Japan with a degree in law. Living in the colonial era, Chun consistently wondered what he could do for his country, and his thoughts were influenced greatly by interactions with his master Oh Se-chang, an active independence fighter and calligrapher. Driven by the will to preserve national treasures, Chun’s master was devoted to writing a collection of books on the works of renowned painters and calligraphers. Moved by Oh’s works, Chun made a resolution to dedicate his life for the good of the country, and was given a pen name Kansong by his master. At the age of 25, Chun became a billionaire as he inherited a huge amount of inheritance amounting to 100,000 sok of rice (a sok is a bag of 5.12 bushels of rice). He spent most of his inheritance, amounting to 450 billion won, in purchasing national treasures including calligraphic works, porcelains, statute of Buddha, and objects made with stone.

In 1935, Chun purchased a “maebyong” (vase) decorated with an inlaid design of 10,000 cranes at 20,000 won, which was worth 20 tile-roofed houses at the time. Chun also purchased a porcelain bottle designed with an orchid, chrysanthemum, grass, and insect patterns for 15,000 won, as well as the “Hunmin Chongum,” or “the correct sounds of the instruction of the people” for 10,000 won. Chun often paid twice or three times more than the requested amount, and soon possessed a large collection of cultural assets ranging from those of the Three Kingdoms period to modern times.

During the latter days of his life, Chun faced difficulties largely due to the financially troubled Posong Middle and High Schools which he bought in 1940. In January, 1962, Chun died of pyelitis (acute inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney).

Twice a year, the Kansong Museum of Art located in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul holds exhibitions showcasing Korean national treasures collected by Chun. The exhibitions are considered a rebirth of Chun’s collections featured in the Bohwagak, Korea’s first private museum built in 1938. Although some called Chun a “fool” criticizing him for his obsession with collecting cultural assets, Chun will undoubtedly be remembered as the “Father of Korea,” for his relentless passion in guarding the spirit of the nation.