Painter Lee Jong-sang Passes Away, Left Behind the Sillimdang Portrait on the 50,000 Won Note

Lee Jongsang, a master of Korean painting who painted the portraits of Shin Saimdang on the 50,000won bill and Yi I (Yulgok) on the 5,000won bill, passed away on the 8th. He was 88. Born in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, Lee majored in Oriental painting at Seoul National University and stood out in art exhibitions from his college years. He later studied Eastern philosophy at Dongguk University and earned a doctorate, striving to broaden the philosophical foundation of Korean art. He saw tradition not as something to be simply inherited, but as a starting point that should be newly interpreted in a modern way. By experimenting with materials and techniques, he expressed Korea's nature and spirit in a modern visual language, and he also consistently continued his work on Dokdo and historical figures. The funeral altar has been set up at the funeral hall of Korea University Anam Hospital, and the funeral procession will be held at 8:00 a.m. on September 11.