A Korean Buddhist painting from the Goryeo Dynasty was kept for centuries in central Japan at the Kakurinji Temple, which claimed ownership of what it called a Chinese artifact. But in 2000, the “Amitabha Triad” was allegedly stolen from the temple to be taken back to Korea.

The two South Korean men responsible for the theft — both in their 50s — embarked on a “cultural acquisition tour” from 1998 to 2000, during which they allegedly stole nearly 50 artifacts, police said. Among the items were six Buddhist paintings from the Goryeo Dynasty and a painting of a Buddhist Mandala from a temple on the Japanese island of Honshu.

The alleged thieves, arrested last November by Seoul police after a three-month collaborative probe by Korean and Japanese investigators, say their motivation was to recover Korean cultural assets stolen by Japan during its invasion of Korea in 1592 and its colonial occupation from 1910 to 1945.

One of the men, a fortuneteller named Kim Chung Shik, told prosecutors he was influenced by a history book written by a South Korean college professor who says that scores of Korean cultural assets pillaged by Japan are now in various Japanese Buddhist temples.

The Korea Heritage Administration estimates that more than 340,000 such artifacts are in Japan. Until the alleged theft, the “Amitabha Triad” was one of 106 Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) Buddhist paintings believed to be in Japan. Only 13 paintings from that era are known to exist in Korea.

Prosecutors say the men were motivated by financial gain. The “Amitabha Triad,” which shows three Buddha figures, is valued at $1 million. The nearly 50 artifacts are valued at more than $4 million.

Once the duo brought the painting back from Japan, they sold it to an antique dealer in Korea. It then changed hands several times. Authorities tracked down each person who had custody of the painting and “finally secured a statement from the last person that he donated it to a temple in Daegu,” prosecutors said.

Temple officials admitted to receiving the painting, but have refused to hand it over for further investigation, authorities said. An extensive search of the temple — with the temple’s permission — did not uncover the painting.

Monks at the temple may have hidden the painting, prosecutors say, for fear the national treasure might be sent back to Japan, which many Koreans oppose. Although the painting was stolen in Japan and smuggled into Korea, citizens are questioning whether it should be returned to the Japanese temple or remain in Korea.

Experts and prosecutors say it is unlikely that the painting will be returned to Japan, since none of the last few owners appear to have been aware they were buying something that was stolen.

The last owner of the painting, investigators say, was a Buddhist who had received it as a gift from a business partner. The Buddhist later donated it to the temple in Daegu. The business partner reportedly bought the painting for 400 million won, thinking it was from North Korea.