Seen is a 1733 government document issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) to the descendants of Eom Heung-do, a local official who secretly retrieved the body of the exiled King Danjong (1441-57) following his execution. Courtesy of National Library of Korea
The National Library of Korea will publicly reveal for the first time a rare historical document detailing the loyalty of Eom Heung-do, a Joseon-era official, as public interest in his story surges following the massive success of the film “The King’s Warden.”
The Seoul-based library said Wednesday that the special exhibition, scheduled to run from March 24 to April 19 at its main building in Seocho District, centers on a 1733 document.
Issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs under the special command of King Yeongjo (1694-1776) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the record grants Eom’s descendants exemptions from military service and labor as a reward for their ancestor’s loyalty to the deposed King Danjong (1441-57).
Actors Park Ji-hoon, left, and Yoo Hae-jin in “The King’s Warden.” Courtesy of Showbox
The document is considered a highly valuable historical resource as it shows how the state officially recognized and rewarded Eom’s courageous act of burying the exiled king at a time when others feared to do so.
The artifact was deposited at the library in 2019 by a descendant of Eom’s and is being shown to the public for the first time with the family’s consent.
“This exhibition was organized to provide a multidimensional look at King Danjong and Eom Heung-do through various literary materials,” said Hyeon Hye-won, head of the library’s old and rare books division. “We hope the public interest triggered by the movie will extend to our precious heritage records and old literature.”
Actors Yoo Hae-jin, left, and Park Ji-hoon from a poster of movie “The King s Warden” / Courtesy of Showbox
Directed by Jang Hang-jun, “The King’s Warden” recently surpassed 13 million ticket sales.
The movie has sparked a nationwide fascination with the tragic history of King Danjong (played by Park Ji-hoon), who was exiled to the remote village of Yeongwol in Gangwon Province after being ousted by his uncle, King Sejo. Eom (played by Yoo Hae-jin) is remembered in history as the local official who risked execution to provide a proper funeral for the young king.
In addition to the document, the exhibition will feature six other original records.
These include the “Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty,” which details the process of the king’s exile, and the historical novel “Danjong Aesa,” written by Lee Kwang-su (1892-1950). The novel will be presented as both a handwritten manuscript from the 1930s and a printed edition from 1935.
Other works on display include biographical records of Eom Heung-do’s life and actions, from compilations published in 1817 and 1936.