South Korea's top carriers offered to transport centuries-old Korean royal books from France for free after the two countries agreed on their return late last year, a diplomatic source said Tuesday.
The 297 volumes of "Oegyujanggak" books from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) are expected to be returned starting later this month, officials have said, following French President Nicolas Sarkozy's pledge in November to return the collection of royal protocols on a renewable lease.
"The airlines have told the government they would like to take part in the historic return of our cultural assets by transporting them for free," the source said.
The first batch is likely to be carried by Asiana Airlines and followed by additional shipments by Korean Air. The government had initially planned to pay the full cost of transportation estimated at over 10 million won (US$8,953).
Officials at the Seoul headquarters of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines confirmed the report.
"My understanding is that our office in Paris is in talks with the South Korean embassy there, but the flight date and number have not yet been set," said an official at Asiana Airlines.
"These books are historically important, and we believe they should be transported in perfect conditions ensuring constant temperature and ventilation," an official at Korean Air said, requesting anonymity. "Our company flies cargo-only aircraft to Paris twice a week, whereas Asiana Airlines only operates passenger planes, so we think such factors should be taken into consideration."
The royal documents were looted by French troops in 1866 when they invaded a Korean island in retaliation against the persecution of French Catholic missionaries by Koreans. The books will be transferred from the National Library of France to Seoul's National Museum of Korea before the end of May, according to the foreign ministry.