Daegu 'Statue of Peace' Mask Removed and Ornament Damaged by Man in His 40s, Arrested

The photo shows grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, sitting beside the Statue of Peace at the Wednesday Demonstration held at Daegu 2.28 Park on May 28.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] A man in his 40s who damaged the 'Statue of Peace' sculpture installed in downtown Daegu was caught by the police.

According to Daegu Jungbu Police Station on the 9th, a citizen reported at 5:58 PM the previous day that the Statue of Peace at the 2·28 Memorial Central Park was being damaged. Police who arrived at the scene chased A (44), who was fleeing, for about 500 meters and arrested him without detention on charges of property damage.

It was investigated that A removed the mask from the statue and took off butterfly-shaped decorations hung by supporters. Identified as unemployed, he told the police during the investigation that the reason for removing the mask was, "I'm hot too, so wouldn't the statue be hot as well?" Regarding the reason for removing the decorations, he rambled, mentioning 'Justice Memory Solidarity Yoon Mee-hyang,' the police said.

A was also previously booked without detention last month on charges of property damage for graffiti defaming Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin on the central stage of Dongseong-ro.

A Jungbu Police Station official said, "He is rambling without clearly stating the motive for the crime," and added, "Both cases will be sent for prosecution on charges of property damage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.