U.S. authorities have seized royal seals of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty from an antique collector in Los Angeles.
 
The Homeland Security Investigations of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is confirmed to have seized seals of King Hyunjong and Queen Munjeong in late September.
 
A KBS team discovered in April the seal of Hyunjong, the 18th king of the Joseon Dynasty, at the home of American antique collector Robert Moore in Los Angeles. The seal of Queen Munjeong was on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which purchased it from Moore in 2000.
 
In light of the information, Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration asked the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations to investigate the two royal seals in May and July.
 
U.S. authorities are expected to return the historical relics to Korea after a court ruling is made following other procedures.
 
Of 375 royal seals produced during the Joseon Dynasty, 50 went missing during the Korean War.
  
The Korean government is seeking to have the seals listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.