Wani [
] (Wang-In in Korean pronunciation) was a legendary scholar who is said to have brought the Analects and introduced Chinese characters to Japan. He was invited from Baekje (Paekche) (4C?-663) to teach Confucianism during the reign of Emperor Ojin (r. 370?-410?) and became the ancestor of the Kawachinofumi [
] clan. (*)
Koreans often refer to him in order to show the superiority of Korea to Japan in ancient times. (*) But a little more study will make them drift into a dilemma.
Wani was recorded in Japanese ancient writings such as Kojiki and Nihon Shoki (Nihongi.) There is, on the other hand, no record about him in Korea. There is no archaeological evidence supporting his existence. Furthermore, Kojiki says that Wani brought Qianziwen (The Thousand-Character Classic) in the late 4th century, but existing Qianziwen was made during the reign of Emperor Wu of Chinese Liang Dynasty (r. 502-549). So it is unclear whether he was a real person or just a fabulous character.
If they trust in these Japanese writings, he had a real existence. But then, he was not Korean but Chinese. It is presumed that Wani (Wang Ren in Chinese) was a member of Chinese clan of Wang, who lived in Lelang, the former Chinese commandery in the Korean Peninsula. Houhanshu (The History of the Later Han Dynasty) says that Wang clan's ancestor Wang Zhong came from Shangdong to Lelang in 2nd century BC. And according to Shoku Nihongi (Continuation of Nihon Shoki,) Kawachinofumi clan insisted that their ancestor Wani was a descendant of Emperor Gaozu, or Liu Bang, the founder of Chinese Former Han Dynasty (BC 202-AD 8.) What is worse, the documents in which he was recorded also say that Japan was ruled Mimana, the southern part of the Korean Peninsula for around 200 years.
If they view those ancient Japanese writings as incredible, as most Koreans do, nothing support Wani's existence.
In fact, it is considered that Kawachinofumi clan legendized and embroidered their ancestor.
Koreans persist and believe that Wani was born in Yeong-am, South Jeolla Province, and a building called "Dr. Wangin's relics" was designated as a "Provincially Designated Cultural Property." (*) They even hold "Wangin Culture Festival" every year. (*) But there is no evidence that Wani was born in Yeong-am and the "relics" was built in the 20th century.
Koreans are busy fabricating history, which is massive but too slapdash.