The Object Hidden in the Records
Si-woo, home at last, turned on his computer.
Song the old man's words would not leave his head.
"If there’s a record of it in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the value of the piece will rise even more."
Si-woo knew, through the status window, information that Song the old man did not.
He opened the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty website, run by the National Institute of Korean History.
Every record had been digitized, available for anyone to read.
It contained 472 years of history, preserved in full from Taejo to Cheoljong.
"Lee Jong-seong, Minister of Personnel."
He typed the keyword into the search bar and hit Enter.
The results came pouring in.
Records from King Yeongjo’s reign filled the screen.
Si-woo searched among them for a man named Lee Jong-seong.
If he had been a Minister of Personnel, then he was a high-ranking official of the second senior rank.
And if the king himself had bestowed a gift on such a man, there had to be a record of it somewhere. He was certain of it.
Found it!
[Volume 52 of the Annals of King Yeongjo, entry for the 15th day of the 3rd month, in the 18th year of Yeongjo's reign]
[A blue-and-white dragon-pattern vase is bestowed upon Lee Jong-seong, Minister of Personnel.]
[The king granted an audience to Lee Jong-seong, Minister of Personnel, and said, "It has been one month since you took charge of the Ministry of Personnel, and in recommending capable men you have shown no trace of favoritism, bringing clarity to the court. I am most pleased with you."]
[He then ordered a vase of blue-and-white porcelain with a dragon motif to be taken from the inner royal treasury and bestowed it upon him, saying, "This vase was made with great care by the Bunwon artisan Jang Seok-chil. Cherish it as a treasured heirloom in recognition of your loyalty." Lee Jong-seong bowed his head and expressed his boundless gratitude.]
"Damn. I actually found it."
Si-woo muttered the words before he even realized he was speaking.
The official record that King Yeongjo had personally given the vase to Lee Jong-seong.
It even specified that it had been made by the Bunwon artisan Jang Seok-chil.
It matched the inscription on the vase perfectly.
And he had also found another interesting piece of evidence.
This vase was no longer a mere antique.
It was an artifact carrying the weight of history inside it.
* * *
The next morning, Si-woo took out the business card he had received from Song the old man.
Jeong Hae-won.
Under the name was only a simple phone number.
No title, no company name.
A normal card would have been crowded with affiliation and position, but this one was different.
That, in its own way, made it look even more unusual.
Someone who did not need to explain himself.
Someone whose name alone carried weight in this field.
For now, he sent a cautious text.
- Hello. My name is Kim Si-woo. I’m reaching out at Mr. Song’s recommendation. I’d appreciate it if you could contact me when you have time regarding the blue-and-white porcelain vase.
After sending it, he felt tense for no good reason.
Had the message been too stiff?
His mind ran through all kinds of possibilities.
Then, not long after, his phone rang.
He checked the number on the screen, drew a slow breath, and cleared his throat.
"Hello?"
"May I speak with Kim Si-woo?"
"Yes, this is he."
"This is Jeong Hae-won. Thank you for contacting me."
A low, calm middle-aged male voice continued on the line.
"I’ve heard about it from Mr. Song. A Jang Seok-chil inscription and a royal gift from Yeongjo, is that right?"
"Yes, that’s correct."
"It’s not common for Mr. Song to introduce someone personally. That means it must be something worth a careful look."
"That’s very generous of you."
Si-woo did his best to keep his voice steady.
"How is the vase’s condition?"
"There’s a crack along the side. But there are no signs of repair, and the characteristic color and pattern remain clear."
"Hmm."
There was a faint note of regret in Jeong Hae-won’s low hum.
"That much can be taken into account. I’ll need to see it in person before giving my assessment."
Si-woo seized the opening and produced the card he had prepared.
"Yes. That would probably be best. I also found a related record in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty."
"Oh? There was a record?"
Jeong Hae-won’s tone brightened at once.
"Yes. In the Annals of King Yeongjo, there was an entry stating that King Yeongjo bestowed it upon Lee Jong-seong, Minister of Personnel. Jang Seok-chil’s name was mentioned as well."
"Ah. That is excellent news indeed."
Clear satisfaction colored Jeong Hae-won’s voice.
"Whether a record exists or not makes all the difference in the world. The piece’s status changes completely."
"Exactly."
"Mr. Si-woo. Would you happen to be free today?"
"Yes, I’m available anytime today. I can come to you."
"If that’s all right, could you come to Cheongdam-dong around two in the afternoon? I’ll send you the exact address by text."
"Understood. Thank you."
The call ended.
It had been a short conversation, but there was no helping the tension.
This was a matter involving an object that could easily fetch more than one hundred million won.
Shortly after, a text arrived.
- Please come to Eterna Gallery in Cheongdam-dong. I will notify the security desk in advance of your name, Mr. Kim Si-woo.
Eterna Gallery?
He typed the name into a search engine.
When he saw the results, Si-woo’s eyes widened.
It was one of the most high-end art galleries in the country.
Among collectors, there was nobody who did not know it.
Even the exterior photo of the building looked extraordinary.
It was a distinctive structure combining black brick and exposed concrete.
A curved roof reminiscent of the eaves of a hanok rested atop the modern facade.
It was an architectural work in which East and West, tradition and modernity, coexisted in a strangely compelling balance.
So the deal is happening here?
Si-woo began wrapping the vase carefully.
He placed it in a box and filled every gap with cushioning material.
It absolutely could not be allowed to jostle.
By the time he finished preparing, it was time to leave.
* * *
Cheongdam-dong.
Following the alleyway between luxury homes, he came upon a building with a distinctly unusual style.
This is Cheongdam Eterna Gallery.
A security guard stood at the front gate.
"Your name, please?"
"Kim Si-woo."
"Yes, you’re on the list. You may go in."
"Thank you."
After handing over his ID and passing the checkpoint, another staff member was waiting inside.
"You’re Mr. Kim Si-woo, yes? We’ve been expecting you. This way, please."
The moment he stepped inside, a broad lobby opened before him.
The building had looked large from the outside, but the interior seemed even more expansive.
The ceiling was high, and soft lighting wrapped the entire space.
"They’re waiting over there. I’ll leave you here."
At the place the staff member indicated, two people were standing.
One was a man in his early fifties.
He wore a black shirt with a gray jacket, neat and understated.
His eyes were sharp, but his face was gentle.
He had to be the man from the phone.
The woman standing beside him appeared to be in her late twenties.
Her black hair fell long past her shoulders, and she wore something simple: a white blouse and black slacks.
But perhaps it was true that the plainer the clothes, the more the person wearing them stood out.
There was a refined elegance about her.
"Mr. Kim Si-woo?"
"Hello. I’m Kim Si-woo."
"I’m Jeong Hae-won, appraisal consultant for Eterna Gallery."
Jeong Hae-won extended a hand, and Si-woo shook it.
"And this is..."
Jeong Hae-won glanced toward the woman beside him.
"Shin A-young. I run the gallery here."
Si-woo was quietly taken aback.
To be running a gallery of this scale at that age.
She was clearly no ordinary person.
"I’m Kim Si-woo."
"I’ve heard about you from Mr. Song. He said a rare piece of ceramics had turned up."
"Yes. I was fortunate enough to end up owning it."
Shin A-young gave a small nod.
"Let’s not stand here talking. Come inside."
The moment they went in, Si-woo was surprised all over again.
It was an exhibition hall.
Various ceramics were displayed throughout the space.
Each piece glowed under the lights.
Beautiful.
Even Si-woo, who knew next to nothing about antique art, could tell these were no ordinary pieces.
At the center, in particular, a white moon jar was displayed in a glass case.
Its soft curves and pure white color.
It was the very essence of Joseon white porcelain.
These are probably all genuine.
Si-woo found himself holding his breath.
The air itself felt different here.
He could not begin to imagine how much money sat in this room when measured in cash.
Don’t get intimidated. I’m here to sell a vase, that’s all.
He was guided into a reception room and took a seat.
Tea had already been prepared on the table.
A staff member silently poured the tea and withdrew.
Si-woo carefully opened the box he had brought and took out the vase.
At once, the expressions of Jeong Hae-won and Shin A-young changed.
Their eyes fixed on the vase.
Jeong Hae-won put on gloves and lifted it.
"Let me take a moment."
His movements were careful, but skilled.
He checked the interior of the foot, counted the dragon’s claws one by one, and examined the glaze with meticulous attention.
At last, Jeong Hae-won set the vase back down.
"It’s unquestionably authentic."
He let out a low exhale before continuing.
"There are fewer than five surviving works by Jang Seok-chil. But this is the first with a royal-gift inscription."
Si-woo took out the documents he had prepared.
"I found a related record in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty."
Jeong Hae-won accepted the papers and began to read.
His eyes grew wider and wider.
"Yeongjo mentioned Jang Seok-chil by name himself. It is exceedingly rare for an artisan’s name to appear in the annals. Most craftsmen never even have their names preserved."
Shin A-young took the papers next and looked them over, then said, "I looked into Lee Jong-seong. I found something interesting. He was the fifth-generation descendant of Yi Hang-bok, and because his relative Park Mun-su lost both parents young and grew up depending on his maternal family, the two of them studied together."
"Yes, that’s right."
"Especially during Yeongjo’s reign, there’s a lot of material tied to Crown Prince Sado."
That was something Si-woo had looked into as well.
[In 1758, as the Crown Prince’s offenses stemming from his illness grew even more serious, Yeongjo dismissed all the officials of the Crown Prince’s office, then took his seat on the moon terrace of Myeongjeongjeon, while the Crown Prince laid straw mats in Simindang and waited in deep apology.]
[Lee Jong-seong, then Grand Councilor, spoke against Yeongjo, arguing that the king was wrong to berate the Crown Prince so harshly for his failings and that even if he had erred, he should be taught and corrected rather than publicly condemned.]
"I also watched a film about Crown Prince Sado, and it made me see how, from a young age, one person slowly fell apart under Yeongjo’s obsessive focus on education and his excessive expectations of his son. Because of that, Lee Jong-seong’s words felt even more real to me."
She swept her hair back and looked toward Jeong Hae-won.
"I really like artifacts that carry stories like this. Mr. Jeong, what do you think this piece is worth?"
"Hmm."
Jeong Hae-won fell into thought for a moment, then spoke slowly.
"Five hundred million won would be appropriate. The crack is unfortunate, but the inscription and the annals record more than make up for it."
Shin A-young nodded.
"Not a bad price."
She turned to Si-woo.
"I’d like to buy it for five hundred million. What do you think?"
Was five hundred million really a number that could come out of someone’s mouth so easily?
So this was what it meant to live in a different world.
His heart began pounding like mad.
But he made sure not to show it on his face.
With a faint smile, he answered calmly, "That’s a very satisfying price."
The deal was concluded.
The contract was signed, and the paperwork was finished.
Jeong Hae-won confirmed the transfer.
[Deposit: 500,000,000 won]
Si-woo stared blankly at the phone screen.
Five hundred million.
He had no real sense of how many years at a company it would take to earn that much.
He had left his job not knowing what he should do next.
And yet, right now, five hundred million won was sitting in his account.
They said when one door closes in life, another opens.
He just hadn’t expected such a huge door to swing wide open.
He had just stepped outside and was about to say goodbye when he heard a voice.
"Don’t shake it! Carry it carefully!"
An urgent shout rang out.
He turned and saw several staff members carefully carrying an item in a wooden box.
It seemed to be something newly arrived at the gallery.
He caught bits of their conversation.
"That’s going to the storage vault, right?"
"Yes, Consultant Jeong Hae-won said he’d appraise it himself."
"No one else could determine exactly what it is, but if it’s Appraiser Jeong Hae-won, he’ll know."
"Of course. He’s the most famous one in the country."
Si-woo’s gaze went to the box, and his eyes slowly widened.
Light was seeping out from inside.
But unlike the vase, it was not a bright color.
It was black.
* * *