The Smile Hidden in the Wall
Since the exclusive interview went out, articles had begun springing up everywhere like weeds after rain.
And naturally, the one that claimed first place in the culture section was the piece written by Joa Ilbo reporter Han Ji-yeon.
A gilt-bronze seated Maitreya Buddha from the Baekje King Mu era had broken its 1,400-year silence and emerged into the world from inside the wall of an abandoned house moments before demolition.
Kim Si-woo, the artifact appraiser who had already become a sensation for uncovering independence movement relics, the sword of Kato Kiyomasa, and works by Shin Yun-bok, had now pulled off another feat that would write a new page in the history of Korean Buddhist art.
...
According to our investigation, the artifact discovered this time is a gilt-bronze seated Maitreya Buddha believed to have been made in the 23rd year of King Mu of Baekje, in 622. On the back of the halo, the inscription reads clearly: "In the 23rd year of King Mu of Baekje, year of Imo, we cast this sacred image for the peace of the nation," leaving no doubt as to its date of production or purpose.
...
The letter explained that he had hidden it inside the wall because he feared his son would sell it for money, and it contained a desperate request: "I beg the person who discovers this Buddha to donate it in my place, so that the people may see the smile of Baekje."
...
A detailed appraisal conducted by Eterna Gallery, the Cultural Heritage Appraisal Committee, and academic experts determined it to be authentic.
...
Jeong Hae-won, honorary professor at Korea University and appraisal adviser to Eterna, remarked, "Analysis of the aging of the gilt-bronze surface and the casting technique, as well as the script and contents of the inscription on the halo, all match the characteristics of the Baekje King Mu era perfectly. In particular, few Baekje Buddhas retain inscriptions this clearly, allowing us to identify the production date so precisely. It is more than worthy of designation as a national treasure."
[Seoul = Joa Ilbo reporter Han Ji-yeon]
- Wow, unbelievable... he donated something that valuable? Kim Si-woo really is on another level, damn.
- If he donates it like that, don’t they give him some kind of reward?
- There is a compensation system. But this is our country we're talking about. They'll probably tell him to wait, drag it out for years, then hand over some pathetic little payment after public attention dies down, lol.
- Still, wouldn’t the reward be worth a few hundred million won at least? And he gave it to the state without taking anything? Insane.
- I looked it up, and they do pay compensation, but budget review would probably take years. By then all kinds of nonsense would be said. Honestly, a clean donation is better. Right?
- No, seriously lol. He goes house-hunting and somehow finds a national treasure there?
- At this point it’s academic consensus that he didn’t go to look at the house, he went to look for relics, lol.
- The man who finds national treasures by knocking on walls lol
- I’m knocking on my wall right now.
- I knocked on mine too, and the tattooed punk next door came over asking if I was the one making all that noise. Don’t go banging on walls carelessly, you idiots.
- How hard were you knocking, lol? Unintended floor-noise victims everywhere.
- Me: buy an apartment and find defects. / Kim Si-woo: buy a house and find a national treasure.
- How did he know there was an empty space in the wall that quickly?
- He just sees the world differently from everyone else.
- What ordinary people look at when they tour a house: transportation, neighborhood, noise, sunlight, and so on.
- What Kim Si-woo looks at: wall thickness, dead space, hidden cultural property.
- Hahahahahaha
- Writer, if you write the script like this, people will say it has no credibility. Reality is crazier, lol.
- At this point, isn’t Kim Si-woo basically a walking metal detector? Designate him a human cultural treasure.
- I ripped off my wallpaper and all I found was mold. Kim Si-woo, take responsibility.
- I grabbed a hammer and got smacked on the back of the head by my mom.
- Look at that Buddha’s smile... it really doesn’t lose out even beside National Treasure No. 1.
- Doesn’t it feel similar to the wooden standing Maitreya Bodhisattva in Japan?
- Yeah. That’s the Baekje style.
- Donating it without taking compensation is so cool!!
- Agreed. Not many people know the value of something beyond money. Incredible.
- Siiiiuuuuuu, as expected of our brother.
- It’s moving that he decided to donate after reading Park Kang-hoon’s letter full of regret.
- After seeing this, I’m donating to the Kim Hak-jun Foundation.
- Let’s go. I’m already a regular donor there. It feels like the most trustworthy public foundation these days.
- I’m going to support them with money too.
- Did the Kim Hak-jun Foundation server crash again? I went to donate and couldn’t access it, lol.
Seeing the reaction to the article, it was a relief that he hadn’t taken the compensation.
Thanks to that, a donation relay to the Kim Hak-jun Foundation had started up again in ways no one had expected.
News of the discovery of the Baekje gilt-bronze seated Maitreya Buddha crossed the Korea Strait and shook the Japanese archipelago as well.
It was already accepted in Japanese academic circles that Baekje culture was the root of Japan’s Asuka culture.
In particular, the news stirred a reaction because a Buddha statue similar in form to Japan’s national treasure No. 1, the wooden standing Maitreya Bodhisattva, had been discovered.
- He found a treasure by drilling through a wall? That sounds like something out of a comic, wwww
- My wall only has rats, wwww
- What’s the Japanese government doing? We should be the ones buying that!
- Are you stupid? Baekje belongs to Korea. Besides, it’s obviously a national treasure, so export would be banned.
- Eterna Gallery? I heard they plan to exhibit it there later. I’m definitely stopping by if I travel to Korea.
...
At the very end of the long corridor.
In a private room set apart in a secluded spot.
On the door, a nameplate with a refined design and a gold border.
Kim Si-woo Appraiser
When he opened the door and stepped inside, he was greeted by the openness of a spacious room.
One wall was lined from end to end with books packed tightly onto shelves.
By the window stood a solid wooden desk and a top-quality leather chair, both exuding understated elegance.
It was an interior that reflected Shin A-young’s meticulous care.
What drew his eye most of all, however, was the huge floor-to-ceiling window straight ahead.
He walked to the glass and looked out.
The view of Cheongdam-dong spread below from the fifth floor.
Neatly ordered rows of street trees and people moving busily among them.
The polished scenery of the city center opened out before him like a panorama.
Should I get started on work now?
He had been working from home because there was no contractual obligation to commute, but lately he had found himself coming into the gallery more often than staying home all day.
He had started to develop a regular rhythm, and above all, he felt physically and mentally healthier for it.
He looked at the monitor.
Various auction sites and Byeolstagram windows were open.
[Unread Messages 999+]
The number of people following him had already comfortably surpassed 100,000.
He checked his DMs.
There were congratulatory messages, all kinds of spam, illegal ads, and even sponsorship offers.
It was a complete grab bag.
But why on earth am I getting cosmetics sponsorship ads?
He set the question aside and scanned through the DMs for posts requesting appraisals.
- Appraiser Kim Si-woo, this was my grandfather’s keepsake. Could you appraise it for me? (photo)
- I bought this at an antique shop. Could you tell me whether it’s genuine?
- I found this while cleaning out my house. Might it be worth something?
He skipped the text and quickly flicked through the attached photos.
Most were either crude replicas or modern craftwork with no real value.
There was nothing that glowed with promise.
After sitting in the same position for so long, his neck and lower back were screaming.
His concentration began to drift.
"Maybe I should go get some air."
He stood, stretched, and left the office.
He took the elevator up to the rooftop garden prepared in the gallery.
The moment he opened the door and stepped out, fresh air sank deep into his lungs.
The sky was a clear, flawless blue, without a single cloud.
The view was so open it was hard to believe they were in the middle of the city.
"Hoo..."
Just as he moved toward the railing and was about to take a deep breath, he sensed someone nearby.
"Si-woo?"
He turned his head and saw Shin A-young leaning against the railing, drinking coffee.
A cream-colored cashmere coat, black earrings, hair elegantly pinned up.
It looked as though she had come up here for a brief rest as well.
"You were here too, Representative."
"Yes. The office felt a little stifling. Did you come up here to take a break too?"
"Byeolstagram has been flooding me with all kinds of messages, so I ran away for a bit."
At his joke, Shin A-young covered her mouth and smiled softly.
"Would you like some coffee?"
"Yes, that would be nice."
He accepted the coffee she had pulled from the vending machine and looked up at the sky.
"Do you drink vending machine coffee too, Representative?"
"Of course. Did you think I only drink expensive coffee every day? More importantly, the air is lovely, isn’t it? The sky is so clear too."
"It is. It’s been cloudy for days, but today the weather is on our side."
Standing side by side with Shin A-young and looking out over the scenery, a thought suddenly brushed through his mind.
Lately, he had been leading a busy life.
And because of that, he had neglected his mother.
Well, most sons probably did that.
He had only called Mrs. Gong a few times.
He turned to look at Shin A-young beside him.
"Um, Representative."
"Yes?"
"If you have the time, could I ask for some advice?"
"Advice? About what...?"
Curiosity filled Shin A-young’s eyes.
"To be honest, I’ve been so busy with relics and everything else lately that I haven’t been able to pay enough attention to my mother. I’d like to get her a gift, but I just can’t figure out what."
He gave an awkward smile and asked, "You have good taste, Representative, so could you recommend something I could give my mother?"
Shin A-young rested her chin on the railing and thought for a moment.
A breeze came up and scattered her hair.
"Hmm. Is there anything your mother likes?"
If it was something Mrs. Gong liked...
Nothing came to mind right away.
She had raised her child alone, working herself to exhaustion while taking on the role of both parents.
What he remembered most vividly was his mother’s face when she was younger, always busy, always apologetic.
Then something flashed through his mind.
The worn bag he had seen when he visited his parents’ home last time.
The leather had been badly frayed.
"I think I’d like to replace my mother’s bag."
Shin A-young clapped her hands together.
"That works out perfectly. I know a place."
She checked her watch and guided him forward.
"I’ll pick it out for you myself."
"Right now?"
...
Cheongdam-dong luxury street.
Si-woo rode with Shin A-young in her car.
It wasn’t far from the gallery, but she had insisted on guiding him personally.
"Here we are."
Buildings lined the view outside the window.
This was where flagship stores of world-famous luxury brands were clustered together.
Inside the dazzling show windows, luxury goods sat on display so strikingly expensive that they seemed to make your eyes turn.
"I thought a private setting would be better than a department store."
Where they had stopped was the Chanel flagship store.
The entire building existed for Chanel alone.
The black-and-white modern exterior radiated presence.
At the entrance, Chanel’s signature double C logo had been engraved with elegant restraint.
After handing over the car for valet parking and going inside, they found a space arranged with the precision of a gallery.
The first floor was for ordinary customers.
Showcases displaying bags, accessories, and perfume.
Inside, people who looked wealthy moved in and out.
A manager spotted Shin A-young and hurried over to greet her respectfully.
"Welcome, Representative Shin. I’ll escort you to the VIP room right away."
The manager led them to the fifth floor.
When the elevator doors opened, a completely different world lay beyond.
Unlike the first-floor store, this was quiet and private.
The spacious lounge held luxurious sofas and tables for VIP guests.
After a moment, a middle-aged manager in white gloves entered with an elegant smile.
"Representative Shin, it’s been a while."
"Hello, Chief Manager. Have you been well?"
"Hoho. I’ve been well thanks to you, Representative. What product are you here to see today?"
"Not for me today. We came to look for a gift for Si-woo’s mother."
"Ah, a gift for your mother. You’ve come to the right place."
The manager’s gaze moved back and forth between Si-woo and Shin A-young.
The two of them looked oddly good together.
The manager sent them a meaningful look.
Si-woo realized the man was misunderstanding something.
There was no point in trying to explain here and only making the atmosphere strange.
In situations like this, staying quiet was the best option.
The manager went inside, and to break the awkwardness, Si-woo spoke to Shin A-young.
"Representative, are you not too busy?"
"It’s fine. I have some room in my schedule this afternoon. And..."
Shin A-young met his eyes.
"This is a gift for your mother, Si-woo. We should choose it properly. I actually like picking out presents for people."
A moment later, the manager came out carefully carrying a bag wrapped in a black dust cover.
"Actually, this is something I kept in a separate safe for our VIP clients."
The manager placed it on the table as carefully as if he were handling treasure.
When he slowly removed the dust cover, a black bag with a luminous sheen appeared.
"This is a Chanel Classic Medium, and among them, the gold-tone model is the hardest to get."
There was pride in the manager’s voice.
"This is the kind of bag that makes any woman’s heart flutter, no matter her age. It’s a design beloved by every generation, from women in their twenties all the way to their eighties. Especially if women in their fifties or sixties carry it to a reunion or a gathering, they’ll have all eyes on them."
Si-woo stared at the bag.
The refined texture of the luxurious lambskin, the precise diamond quilting, and the gold chain strap that shimmered softly.
"What do you think, Si-woo? Do you like it?"
"...I really do. In fact, my mother’s been carrying the same worn-out bag for years. I’ve earned enough money, so I feel bad that I didn’t buy her one sooner."
Shin A-young comforted him gently.
"You’re already doing the best filial duty anyone could ask for."
"Me?"
"Of course. It’s been reported all over the country several times that your son appeared in the news and did something admirable. What could be a greater act of filial piety than that? Mothers live for the chance to brag about their children."
Her warmth made his chest feel soft and warm.
The manager chimed in.
"The representative is right. This bag is wonderful, certainly, but the love in your son’s heart is the more precious gift."
Holding the bag up with his white-gloved hands, the manager continued, "And this model normally takes years to get, even if a VIP puts in a waiting reservation. The supply that comes into Korea each month is only a few pieces. I brought this one out especially because you, Representative Shin, came in person."
Si-woo looked at Shin A-young.
Her standing suddenly felt even more impressive than before.
"Thank you so much, Representative. Thanks to you, I’ll be able to give my mother a proper gift."
"I’m glad you like it."
Shin A-young said to the manager, "Then we’ll take this one. Please wrap it beautifully."
"Of course."
He opened his wallet and took out his card.
"Si-woo, wait a moment."
Shin A-young stopped his hand.
"I’ll buy this. While I was helping you choose the gift..."
"No, Representative."
Si-woo politely refused.
"It’s all right. This is only meaningful if I buy it myself."
His tone was firm.
Shin A-young didn’t try to stop him any further.
A little later, the manager came out holding a neatly wrapped shopping bag.
"Would you like to pay by card?"
"Yes. I’ll pay in full by card."
He handed it over without hesitation.
But when the amount arrived on his smartphone, he couldn’t help being startled inwardly.
It was that expensive?
He was surprised by the price, but he didn’t regret it.
The two of them left the store and walked side by side.
The afternoon sun wrapped the street in a gentle glow.
"Thanks to you, that was easy. If I’d come alone, I’d have wandered around forever not knowing what to choose."
"Not at all. I enjoyed it too. I do like picking out gifts."
A quiet smile appeared at the corner of Shin A-young’s lips.
...