South Korea Backs Greece’s Call for Return of Parthenon Sculptures

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni during the signing of the MoU with her Korean counterpart Yu In-Chon. Photo source: Culture Ministry

South Korean Minister of Culture Yu In-Chon recently expressed his government’s full support for Greece’s request for the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens, currently housed at the British Museum.

Yu In-Chon, who also serves as South Korea’s Minister of Athletics and Tourism, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cultural Cooperation with Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni during her visit to the Republic of Korea.

The two ministers emphasized the strong political and diplomatic ties between Greece and South Korea, originally forged during the Korean War. Both officials underscored the need to further enhance cultural collaboration through the immediate implementation of the MoU. The agreement highlights the shared commitment to fostering cooperation in cultural heritage and modern creative industries, reflecting the new priorities for both nations.

New MoU to combat illicit artifact trafficking

Photo source: Culture Ministry

A key focus of the meeting of the two ministers was the issue of illicit artifact trafficking. Both countries are committed to actively seeking the return of antiquities that have been illegally exported.

Minister Mendoni proposed, and her South Korean counterpart agreed, to draft a joint agreement aimed at curbing the illicit trade of cultural items. This new memorandum will be based on the 1970 UNESCO Convention, to which both nations are signatories.

South Korea named ‘Honored Country’ at 2026 Thessaloniki Book Fair

Photo source: Culture Ministry

The two ministers also discussed expanding bilateral cooperation across a range of cultural activities, including theater, dance, music, museum exhibitions, film production, and literary translations. Minister Mendoni extended an invitation for South Korea to be the honored country at the 2026 Thessaloniki International Book Fair, which the South Korean minister accepted.

During her visit, Minister Mendoni also met with representatives of several cultural organizations operating under the South Korean Ministry of Culture, including the Korea Creative Content Agency, Arts Council Korea, and the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service, to explore further collaboration.