Looted Korean Texts Return Home from Japan

Over 1,200 precious books, including over 1,000 volumes of texts from the royal archive, will finally return home more than 100 years after they were taken to Japan. The Cultural Heritage Administration on Monday said under an agreement between Korea and Japan which took effect on June 10, all ancient Korean books stored in Japan's Imperial Household Agency arrive in Korea on Tuesday afternoon.

Japan promised to return a total of 1,205 volumes, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda brought five of them with him when he visited last month. The remaining 1,200 volumes come home Tuesday.

The books are picked up by two Korean Air planes from Tokyo Narita International Airport and arrive at Incheon International Airport at 3:25 p.m. and 4:35 p.m. Following a ceremonial honor guard, the archives will be stored in the National Palace Museum of Korea in Gyeongbok Palace.