A court has upheld that the copyright for the standard portrait of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, which appears on the 100-won coin, is owned by the Bank of Korea. The Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 8-3 dismissed the lawsuit brought by the son of the late artist Jang Woo-sung, who alleged copyright infringement.
Artist Jang originally created the portrait in 1953 at the request of the Admiral Yi Memorial Society, and it was later designated as the first official standard portrait of Admiral Yi in Korea. In 1975, at the request of the Ministry of Culture and Public Information, Jang adapted the portrait for currency design purposes and provided it to the Bank of Korea in exchange for a payment of 1.5 million won. The adapted portrait was initially used on the 500-won note and, since 1983, on the obverse side of the 100-won coin.
The artist’s family claimed that no formal usage agreement was signed, arguing that the Bank of Korea’s continued use of the portrait constituted copyright infringement. They demanded one billion won in compensation, representing over 40 years of usage fees.
The legal dispute centered on whether the adapted portrait for currency design constituted a separate copyrightable work. While the court acknowledged that the adaptation involved creative elements—such as enhanced facial contours—it concluded that the copyright was transferred to the Bank of Korea when Jang provided the adapted portrait and received payment. The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision, further noting that the plaintiff had no evidence to show that the copyright had been passed on to him.
https://www.chosun.com/national/court_law/2025/02/15/ET4Q2EKPZ5BCLC6YKXFG6MJW34/