문화재의 반환과 국제법

Restitution of Cultural Properties Illicitly Transferred and International Law

  The prevention of the illicit trade in cultural properties and the restitution of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects to their origin country has recently become a global issue. As the importance of this issue is widely felt, international society is making efforts to bring this matter under international control. As a consequence, some international conventions have been concluded up to the present.   But the result of voluntary return by possessor country of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects to their origin country has been relatively rare. So international society should work out norm or rules to make their prompt restitution possible within the circle of UNESCO. It is desirable not only national governments but also various NGOs and other private-sector institutions and persons participate in this concerted effort.   The Republic of Korea can be classified as one of seriously injured states because her cultural properties had been moved out coercively. South Korea should conduct diplomatic negotiations successfully with the related countries, especially France and Japan, by the recourse to international laws or norms on the restitution of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects.