A controversy has emerged over the authenticity of Lee Ufan’s work “From Point No.800298”, which former prosecutor Kim Sang-min is alleged to have provided to First Lady Kim Keon-hee. Whether the painting is genuine or fake could significantly alter the legal and political implications of the case.
Case Overview
The special prosecutor’s team, led by Min Jung-ki, has been investigating allegations that Kim Sang-min purchased and handed over a Lee Ufan painting to Kim Keon-hee.
The core issues are: ▲the authenticity of the work ▲the ownership and transaction history ▲whether the case violates the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act or constitutes bribery.
Fake Judgment: Korea Galleries Association
According to The Hankyoreh, the Korea Galleries Association’s appraisal committee conducted two examinations of the work in July and August 2025 at the request of the special prosecutor and unanimously concluded that the piece was a forgery.
The committee cited the following reasons:
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Suspicious provenance and abnormal price fluctuations:
The work was initially listed at a Taiwanese minor auction for just a few million won, sold at around 30 million won, but later appeared in the Insadong art market in Korea at over 100 million won. -
Discrepancies in artistic features:
The signature, pigment, canvas material, and style all diverged from those found in authentic Lee Ufan works.
Genuine Judgment: Korea Art Authentication & Appraisal Research Center
By contrast, the Korea Art Authentication & Appraisal Research Center examined the same work and issued a report identifying it as authentic.
This center has previously handled appraisals of numerous Lee Ufan works and emphasized its expertise in this matter.
Divergent Positions
Kim Sang-min’s side argued that he did not personally own the painting but merely mediated the transaction. This position seeks to distance him from the authenticity dispute.
Conflicting Results
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Korea Galleries Association: Forgery
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Korea Art Authentication & Appraisal Research Center: Authentic
The starkly different outcomes from two recognized institutions have fueled debate over the credibility of the Korean art appraisal system. Current practices still rely heavily on connoisseurship rather than scientific analysis, underscoring the need for more rigorous methods.
Key Issues Ahead
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Legal determination: Additional appraisals and scientific testing may be required.
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Impact on the art market: The case has raised serious concerns about the credibility of Korea’s art authentication system.
Conclusion and Lessons
The lesson from this case is clear: artworks with uncertain provenance (ownership and transaction history) should never be purchased in the first place. Some have argued that this work is likely a forgery, but even if it were to be authenticated as genuine, its market value has already been severely diminished. Once an artwork becomes entangled in a forgery dispute, it is extremely difficult for it to regain a normal valuation in the market. Ultimately, whether authentic or fake, this painting is destined to be shunned by the market.