U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized ancient Korean artifacts taken to California by a U.S. officer who served in the Korean War.
 
The Los Angeles Times reported U.S. customs recently seized in San Diego, California, nine seals dating to the Korean Empire and Joseon Dynasty.
 
The Times said the nine seals were in the possession of the family of a deceased Marine lieutenant who fought in the Korean War and found them in 1950 in a ditch near Deoksu Palace.
 
Customs authorities launched investigation as they learned about the seals when a man contacted a Washington-based antiquities expert to find out whether they were valuable.
 
The Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles says if U.S. customs found stolen Korean artifacts, they will likely notify the South Korean Cultural Heritage Administration and return them according to relevant agreements.