[KOREA] How the Samsung Scandal Gave a Pop Artist a Boost

January 31, 2008 by Dennis Amith

Chosun reported, “The American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein innocently made headlines in Korea a decade after his death when his work “Happy Tears” appeared on a list of artworks that were allegedly bought by Samsung with money from corporate slush funds. The scandal, it seems, has sparked fresh interest among collectors.”"Two Lichtenstein prints will go under the hammer at Seoul Auction today. One is “Crying Girl,” a similar image to “Happy Tears” and valued at W40-50 million (US$1=W944). Shim Mi-sung, the general manager at Seoul Auction, said, “We were delighted when we were asked to auction a Lichtenstein work similar to ‘Happy Tears.’ Many visitors to a preview showed interest in the item.” Galleries say they have run out of Lichtensteins.”