Yu Hong-jun

Yu Hong-jun (Korean: 유홍준; 18 January 1949 –) is a South Korean art historian and professor. From 2004 to 2008, he served as the 3rd Commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration. He is well known as the author of My Cultural Heritage Explorations (currently 20 volumes). His clan seat is Gigye (杞溪), and his pen name is Oesan (外山).

Life

He was born in Seoul and graduated from Joongdong High School, and in 1967 he entered the aesthetics department of Seoul National University. However, during his undergraduate years he took part in student movements and was given a suspension of studies, and after returning from military service he was also imprisoned.¹ Only in 1980 did he graduate from Seoul National University, and in 1981 he made his debut as an art critic through the Dong-A Ilbo Spring Literary Contest.

In 1985 he founded the Korean National Art Association and served as commissioner of the 1st Gwangju Biennale. From 1985 to 2000, he offered open lectures titled "Korean Art History for Young People" in Seoul and Daegu, and served as representative of the "Korean Cultural Heritage Exploration Society." In 1988, at a late age, he entered the graduate school of Sungkyunkwan University, and in 1998 he received a doctorate in art philosophy. From the early 1990s he worked as a faculty member at Yeungnam University and Myongji University; he was appointed dean of the Graduate School of Culture and Arts at Myongji University and, in 2004, the 3rd Commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration, and in 2008 he resigned as commissioner due to the Sungnyemun arson incident. In 2008 he served as honorary director of the Chusa Memorial Hall, located on Jeju Island.²