Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Late Joseon Buddhist Painting Returns to South Korea After 70 Years
A special painting from a long time ago in Korea, called 'Siwangdo', has come back home after being away in America for about 70 years.
This painting is one of ten pictures that show the judges of the afterlife in Buddhist stories.
It was made in 1798, a long, long time ago, during a period called the Joseon Dynasty.
People think it was taken from a temple called Sinheung Temple around 1954, right after the Korean War ended.
A museum in New York called The Met had the painting, but Korean groups worked together to bring it back.
This is special because it's another piece of Korean history returning.
Six similar paintings from the same set came back in 2020.
Now, this painting will be with its sister paintings at the temple.
Everyone hopes to see it displayed publicly soon.
A late Joseon Dynasty Buddhist painting, 'Siwangdo', has been returned to South Korea from the US.
The artwork, painted in 1798, is believed to have been illicitly removed from Sinheung Temple around 1954, after the Korean War.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which acquired the painting in 2007, repatriated it after provenance verification and discussions.
This follows the return of six other 'Siwangdo' panels from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in 2020.
The repatriated painting will join the other six panels at Sinheung Temple in Sokcho, with plans for potential public display.
- Who
- A late Joseon-era Buddhist painting titled 'Siwangdo'
- What
- Repatriated to South Korea from the United States
- When
- Returned recently, after approximately 70 years abroad (removed around 1954, acquired by Met in 2007, return discussions began in 2023)
- Where
- Returned to Sinheung Temple in Sokcho, South Korea, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
- Why
- The painting was believed to have been illicitly removed from the temple after the Korean War.
- Artwork
- Siwangdo (one of a 10-piece series depicting the 10 kings of the afterlife)
- Dynasty
- Joseon Dynasty
- Date
- 1798
- Original Location
- Sinheung Temple, Sokcho, South Korea
- Period of Absence
- Approx. 70 years (believed removed around 1954)
- Repatriated From
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
- Dimensions
- 116.8 cm long, 91.4 cm wide