The Cultural Heritage Administration of the Republic of Korea, headed by Administrator Chung Jae-suk, allowed the permanent export of a white porcelain moon jar on April 16 for the purpose of public display at an overseas institution.

This white porcelain jar was purchased by the oldest and largest art gallery in Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), which is home to a remarkable collection of about 70,000 items. The NGV has been actively working to expand its Korean collection. This is its second procurement of Korean artifacts using permanent export permission following its acquisition in June 2019 of a late 19th–early 20th century chaekgado (painting of bookshelves) and early 20th century yeonhwado (painting of lotus flowers).

The white porcelain moon jar to be permanently exported to Australia is presumed to have been produced in the second half of the 18th century. Measuring 34 by 35 centimeters, it is relatively smaller than other moon jars registered on national and local heritage lists.

Moon jars (dal hangari in Korean) were named for their unadorned white surface and globular shape evoking a full moon. Produced in great quantities through the 18th century, a number of Joseon Dynasty moon jars have survived to the present. The Cultural Heritage Administration made the unusual policy decision of granting permanent export permission for this moon jar following deliberation by the Cultural Heritage Administration on April 9. It was decided that the value of the Korean white porcelain artifact could be more widely appreciated if exhibited overseas.

The Cultural Heritage Administration expects the moon jar to be placed on permanent exhibition at the NGV where it will contribute to further disseminating the aesthetic of traditional Korean art within the international community.

The Cultural Heritage Administration will continue to consider cases of permanent export as an option for the international promotion of traditional Korean art and culture. It will allow selected Korean artifacts to be permanently exported to foreign museums and art galleries based on relevant legal provisions when such institutions wish to purchase Korean artifacts or receive them as donations for exhibition purposes.

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Press Release (April 22, 2020)