"Daemyeongnyul," or "The Great Ming Code," published during the early Joseon Dynasty, is considered one of the most important resources for studying the kingdom's penal code. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

"Daemyeongnyul," a rare historical document from the early years of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, also known as "The Great Ming Code," has lost its Treasure status due to its history of theft before designation. This marks the first time in Korean history that a state-recognized cultural heritage title has been rescinded.

In a recent meeting, the committee for movable cultural heritage reviewed the case of "Daemyeongnyul" and ultimately approved nullifying its status, according to the Korea Heritage Service on Tuesday.

The agency explained that after the document was listed as a Treasure in 2016, its controversial history of acquisition and the fraudulent means used to secure its status came to light. Given these circumstances, officials decided to retroactively revoke its classification under the General Act on Public Administration.

It added that this annulment, prompted by the discovery of an administrative lapse after designation, differs from a formal declassification, which only occurs when a cultural asset is deemed to have lost its historical value.

Revelations about the artifact's problematic acquisition came to light in November 2016, just four months after it was granted the official status.

During a series of investigations into looters targeting Buddhist temples, historical sites and heritage homes across Korea, the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency identified "Daemyeongnyul" as stolen property.

The document had, in fact, been reported missing in 2011 by its owner, Yukshindang, which began as a private village school in Gyeongju in 1878.

According to the police investigation, the director of a private museum in North Gyeongsang Province purchased the relic in 2012 from a black market dealer for 15 million won ($10,300) before applying for its Treasure designation. He allegedly falsified its provenance at the time, claiming that it had been passed down from his late father.

Once his involvement in trafficking was exposed, the museum director was prosecuted and, in 2021, sentenced to three years in prison.

Regarding why the expert committee responsible for reviewing the artifact failed to recognize that it had been reported stolen before its designation, the Korea Heritage Service stated, "Even if a theft report had been filed, it was difficult to verify at the time because, unlike today, detailed photographs of relics were not readily available for comparison."

"Daemyeongnyul" is considered one of the most important resources for studying the early Joseon penal code. Upon the founding of Joseon, King Taejo declared that the kingdom would interpret and adapt "The Great Ming Code" to fit its own criminal legal framework.

This particular copy is believed to be the only surviving edition published in 1389 and, although missing several pages, it remains in relatively good condition.

Currently, the artifact is housed at the National Palace Museum of Korea.