On Jan 31st, Riot Games held a press exhibition for a cultural artifact that was returned to Korea with Riot’s help. The event was held at the assembly hall in the National Palace Museum, located in Seoul, Korea.

The cultural artifact that was returned to Korea was a Bamboo Scroll for the installation of the Crown Princess Hyomyeong. The Bamboo Scroll was previously owned by an individual who lives in France and was put up for auction last year. South Korea bought the Bamboo Scroll with the help of Riot’s donation and the Scroll was returned to Korea.

The artifact belonged to Queen Shinjung (1808-1890), who is the mother of King Hunjong, the 24th King of the Chosun Dynasty. She received the Bamboo Scroll in 1819, when she became the Crown Princess of Crown Prince Hyomyeong. It is a symbol of the royal ceremony of the Chosun Dynasty, and a sophisticated artifact that proves the elegance of the Chosun Dynasty.

The Bamboo Scroll was property of the Royal Library of Chosun, and was thought to have burnt away during the French Invasion of Ganghwa Island in 1866. After the artifact was found, many organizations such as the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Cultural Foundation for foreign-owned Korean Cultural Properties tried to bring the Bamboo Scroll back to Korea. With the donation and other forms of supports from Riot Games, the Bamboo Scroll has finally returned to where it was made.

Taejin Lee, a highly respected historian and a former head of the National Institute of Korean History, did a presentation at the event. “We thought the Bamboo Scroll was lost forever, but it has returned. It’s truly an amazing and joyful event,” Lee asserted. “I hope that other Korean cultural artifacts that are not in Korea can find their way back home, just like this graceful Bamboo Scroll did.”

Seunghyun Lee, the president of Riot Games Korea, said “I am truly happy that Riot Games could help bring back a cultural artifact with such interesting history.” He also added, “We will closely work with our partners and continue to protect and support our cultural artifacts.”

Riot Games signed a contract with the National Heritage Administration of Korea in 2012 and has been protecting Korean cultural artifacts while providing necessary support for 6 years. Riot has donated more than 4.3 billion KRW (4 million USD), and has supported various projects such as the three-dimensional measurement of the Confucius Shrine in Seoul, the conservation of the royal artifacts of the Chosun Dynasty, and the conservation of the four ancient palaces in Korea. Riot Games has successfully brought back a Buddhist painting of the Chosun Dynasty from the United States, and received a presidential reward for protecting cultural heritage.