W5 bil. law suit filed against Hong Ra-hee

A gallery owner has filed a law suit worth 5 billion won against Samsung Foundation of Culture and Hong Ra-hee, director of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, and wife of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

According to Seoul Central District Court, Hong Song-won, director of Gallery Seomi in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, is accusing Hong Ra-hee and Samsung Foundation of Culture of only paying 25 billion won out of 78 billion won for a total of 14 art pieces that they purchased from Hong.

The list of art work sales, submitted by Gallery Seomi’s Hong to the court, includes “Untitled VI” by Willem de Kooning, “Man Carrying a Child” by Francis Bacon and “Bull’s Head” by Damien Hirst.

(dyc@heraldcorp.com)