The sentence was confirmed for the father and son who purchased the stolen cultural property and registered it as a designated cultural property (treasure).
Today (18th), the first division of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice Park Jeong-hwa) dismissed the appeals of Mr. A (73) and son B (50), who were charged with violating the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, and executed them with 3 years in prison and 2 years and 6 months in prison, respectively. The trial court upheld the sentence of 4 years probation.
In 2012, Mr. A, who was running a private museum with his son B, is accused of paying 15 million won to a thief to purchase Daemyungryul and register it as a designated cultural property (treasure).
The 'Daemyeongryul' that they obtained is the original text of 'Daemyeongryuljikhae' published in the early Joseon Dynasty as a punishment book of the Ming Dynasty in China.
In response, they applied for designation as a national cultural asset, saying, "I got it from my father."
However, it turned out that 'Daemyungryul' was stolen from Gyeongju in 1998.
At the time of purchasing 'Daemyungryul', they promised to give 10 million won more money if the stolen property is designated as a cultural property (treasure). .
Those who stood before the court claimed that they did not buy Daemyungryul during the trial, but that it was inherited from their father.
However, the court of first instance sentenced A to 5 years in prison and to B sentenced to three years in prison.
The second trial court also found them guilty.
However, he said, "It was not that Mr. A made an application for designation as a cultural property by making a false Daemyungryul, and he was sentenced to 3 years in prison for Mr. A and 2 years and 6 months in prison for Mr. B. sentenced to 4 years probation.
After their appeal, the case was transferred to the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court confirmed the sentence as there was no problem in the judgment of the second instance.
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