At least two maps labeling the East Sea as the Sea of Japan have been found at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where the controversial “Rising Sun Flag” (used during the Japanese War Crimes Period) mural remains in place.
As of April 23, the mural on the left side of the ticket booth in the main lobby on the second floor of the museum displaying the “Rising Sun Flag” still remains, as well as the disputed Sea of Japan designation along with the Rising Sun flag. Additionally, the title Sea of Japan is displayed on a sign in the “Asian People” history room on the same floor.
Map of Asia displaying the East Sea as Sea of Japan in front of the “Asian Peoples” exhibit on the second floor of the New York American Museum of Natural History. [Minhye Kang, The Korea Daily]
The mural depicts the life of Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), the 26th president of the United States. The museum told the Korea Daily that it recognized the sensitive nature of the topic and would respond with an appropriate explanation, but even after about two weeks, they say they are still waiting for the right person to respond.
“It’s a mural about time travel,” a museum representative named Anthony said, “It depicts all of Roosevelt’s time from an American historical perspective based on his biography. It’s a depiction of his journey to the presidency, and it’s a depiction of his life and death.” However, the museum’s communications team declined to comment, saying “no one was available to respond appropriately.”
The mural was painted by William Andrew McKay in 1935 and depicts Roosevelt organizing the Treaty of Portsmouth after the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. For Koreans, it was a colonial disgrace, but for Roosevelt, it was a major achievement that led to his Nobel Peace Prize.
After the renovation in 2012, the Korean American community asked whether the painting was done during the restoration process, but the museum did not reply.
The mural to the left of the ticket booth in the main lobby on the second floor of the New York’s American Museum of Natural History. [Minhye Kang, The Korea Daily]
In Korea, Kyoung-duk Seo, a public relations expert, and in New York, the Korean American Parents Association of Greater New York (KAPAGNY), strongly criticized the museum by providing historical education materials and mobilizing politicians, but the display of mural could still not be revised. The museum’s response at the time was that it was difficult to remove the mural because it was tiled, which is quite different from removing a large equestrian statue of President Roosevelt, an Indian, and a black man in 2022 in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement.
“We need to continue to protest the violation of freedom, such as the Rising Sun flag, in New York City,” said Yunhee Choi, president of (KAPAGNY). An official from a state senator’s office said, “If they can keep raising this issue to their legislators, politicians will have no choice but to write to the museum to respond.” “We need to make it an agenda,” he said. “It’s a ‘bottom-up’ strategy for a ‘top-down’ one.”
Contacts for legislators’ offices in New York can be found at nysenate.gov, and general inquiries to the museum can be made at amnh.org/about/contact/contact-us-form.
BY MINHYE KANG, HOONSIK WOO [kang.minhye@koreadailyny.com]
