Passed away at the age of 95 due to an illness on the 11th…His words at the donation ceremony in 2018, left behind as an unofficial will
2018년 기증식 발언, 유언 아닌 유언으로 남아,
Late Son Chang-geun (left) pictured at a donation ceremony held at the National Museum of Korea in November 2018 with the museum director at the time. ⓒ News1,
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, ‘(Seoul=News1) Kim Il-chang Kim Jung-han Reporter = ‘, “Please label my belongings as ‘Donated by Anonymous’. I am satisfied and grateful with that.” (Son Chang-geun in 2018),
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, “A person who quietly passed away from this world without standing in front of people despite donating numerous national treasures and properties including the national treasure No. 180 ‘Sehan-do’ of poet Kim Jeong-hee. His words at the donation ceremony held at the National Museum of Korea in 2018 became an unofficial will that remained.”
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, ‘The National Museum of Korea and the family announced on the 17th that Son Chang-geun passed away on the 11th due to an illness at the age of 95.’,
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, ‘Son Sung-gyu, the deceased’s son and a professor at Yonsei University, said in a phone call with News1 on the day, “My father, who was taciturn, did not say a word even when he passed away.” The deceased surprised everyone by attending the donation ceremony held at the National Museum of Korea in 2018. It was his first and last public appearance. His words at that time remained like an unofficial will,’
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, ‘The family did not announce the funeral. The reason was not to make things difficult for people. However, the news of the passing was disclosed through another channel, which even made Professor Son uncomfortable.’,
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, ‘Born in 1929 and a graduate of Seoul National University’s Department of Textile Engineering, the late Son Chang-geun followed in the footsteps of his father, Go Seok-po Sonsegi (1903~1983), a collector of cultural heritage and a philanthropist.’,
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, “Sonsegi donated a treasure ‘Yangsa Eon Choseo’ to Sogang University in 1973, laying the foundation for the establishment of a university museum by donating 200 ancient paintings such as Jeongseon, Sim Sa-jeong, and Kim Hong-do.”,
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Son Chang-geun donated the national treasure No. 180 ‘Sehan-do’. (National Museum of Korea) 2020.8.20/News1“,
, ‘There is an old saying, ‘From father to son.’ In 2008, Son Chang-geun donated 100 million won to the National Museum of Korea for research funds, and in 2012, he donated a forest located in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do to the Korea Forest Service. In 2017, he donated a total of 5.1 billion won for a building and research fund to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).’,
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, “In 2018, he donated 304 items including 202 pieces from the Sonsegi-Son Chang-geun collection to the National Museum of Korea, including masterpieces of Joseon-era paintings such as ‘Bul-i Seonran-do’ and works by renowned Korean painters such as Jeongseon, Sim Sa-jeong, and Kim Duk-shin, as well as seals by Oh Jae-soon, Jang Seung-eop, and Heungseon Daewongun.”,
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, ‘And in 2020, after much deliberation, Son Chang-geun donated ‘Sehan-do’ to the National Museum of Korea. The painting that depicts the theme ‘After a severe winter, one learns that pine and cedar do not wither’ from the Confucian Analects, was drawn by the poet during his exile in Jeju Island at the age of 59. It is evaluated as the best literati painting of the Joseon Dynasty, expressing unwavering spirit even in times of hardship.’,
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, ‘At the special exhibition ‘Like Spring After a Harsh Winter – Sehan(歲寒)·Pyeong-an(平安)’ held at the National Museum of Korea in March 2021, Son Sung-gyu said in an interview with News1, “As ‘Sehan-do’ was a treasure in our house, it was the only one among the 305 ancient paintings that was stored in a safe. When my mother said she would donate the ‘Sehan-do’ of poet Kim Jeong-hee, my father promptly replied without hesitation, ‘You made the right decision’.”‘,
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, ‘Son Chang-geun was recognized for his contributions and became the first to receive the Gold Crown Cultural Medal, the highest honor of the Cultural Merit Awards from the government. He allowed his children to attend the award ceremony instead of himself. It is said that he visited the Blue House in December 2020 at the invitation of then-President Moon Jae-in after persistent persuasion from those around him.’,
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Son Chang-geun’s donated ‘Sehan-do’ is on display at the donation exhibition re-opening press event at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. 2024.1.11/News1 ⓒ News1 An Eun-na Reporter“,