ID :
187704
Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/187704
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea-Japan accord on book return goes into effect
SEOUL/TOKYO, June 10 (Yonhap) -- A bilateral agreement for the return of ancient Korean books from Japan came into force on Friday, about seven months after it was signed between the two countries.
The move came shortly after Japan notified Seoul that it had completed a domestic process to approve the agreement, according to the Seoul government.
Last November, Japan agreed to return a total of 1,205 volumes of archives that were seized during its 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, including texts of royal protocols known as "Uigwe." The deal represented Tokyo's first concrete step forward after Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan pledged in August to return the books and other Korean cultural relics as a show of goodwill. Japan is scheduled to return the texts within six months after the deal takes effect, which means the deadline for their return will be Dec. 10.
"The Japanese government announced that it completed a domestic process necessary to effectuate the pact at about 11 a.m. today," the South Korean government said in a statement.
"This effectuated the South Korea-Japan accord on book return signed by foreign ministers of both countries during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Nov. 14," it said.
Article 3 of the agreement states that the two governments should send each other a written notice that their domestic legal process for ratifying the deal has been completed and that the pact will go into effect from the day the last notification is made.
South Korea gave notification to Japan on Nov. 19.
On Friday, Seoul's Foreign Ministry issued a statement welcoming the effectuation of the agreement.
"We hope future working-level discussions between the two governments for the actual takeover of the books will go smoothly so the books, including 'Uigwe,' can be returned at an early date," the ministry said.
Uigwe is a collection of documents from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) containing details on procedures and formalities conducted for weddings, funerals, banquets and receiving foreign missions as well as cultural activities of the royal family.
Japan is believed to be holding 167 Uigwe books, including 81 originals, at its Imperial Household Agency, after the books were looted from a Buddhist temple in 1922. South Korea has 3,563 Uigwe books, 703 of them originals.
The move came shortly after Japan notified Seoul that it had completed a domestic process to approve the agreement, according to the Seoul government.
Last November, Japan agreed to return a total of 1,205 volumes of archives that were seized during its 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, including texts of royal protocols known as "Uigwe." The deal represented Tokyo's first concrete step forward after Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan pledged in August to return the books and other Korean cultural relics as a show of goodwill. Japan is scheduled to return the texts within six months after the deal takes effect, which means the deadline for their return will be Dec. 10.
"The Japanese government announced that it completed a domestic process necessary to effectuate the pact at about 11 a.m. today," the South Korean government said in a statement.
"This effectuated the South Korea-Japan accord on book return signed by foreign ministers of both countries during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Nov. 14," it said.
Article 3 of the agreement states that the two governments should send each other a written notice that their domestic legal process for ratifying the deal has been completed and that the pact will go into effect from the day the last notification is made.
South Korea gave notification to Japan on Nov. 19.
On Friday, Seoul's Foreign Ministry issued a statement welcoming the effectuation of the agreement.
"We hope future working-level discussions between the two governments for the actual takeover of the books will go smoothly so the books, including 'Uigwe,' can be returned at an early date," the ministry said.
Uigwe is a collection of documents from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) containing details on procedures and formalities conducted for weddings, funerals, banquets and receiving foreign missions as well as cultural activities of the royal family.
Japan is believed to be holding 167 Uigwe books, including 81 originals, at its Imperial Household Agency, after the books were looted from a Buddhist temple in 1922. South Korea has 3,563 Uigwe books, 703 of them originals.
