Did Abe Apologize to the Statue of a Girl? Sculptor Says "No Intention to Remove It"

The sculpture 'Eternal Atonement' located within the Korea Native Plant Garden in Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Junyoung Min] Amid controversy over the installation of the 'Eternal Atonement' sculpture, which depicts a figure prostrating in front of the Girl Statue displayed in the garden of the Pyeongchang Native Plant Garden in Gangwon Province, the creator of the sculpture stated, "I have no intention of removing the sculpture."

Kim Chang-ryeol, director of the Pyeongchang Native Plant Garden, said in an interview with CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" on the 29th, "I can't just put it in a warehouse because neighbors complain about something I made in my own yard, and visitors can come to see it and take photos, so I will just leave it as it is."

Regarding the background of installing the sculpture, Director Kim explained, "I personally funded and commissioned the work. However, people keep misunderstanding and asking if I received support from somewhere, even calling me directly to complain, which makes me very uncomfortable."

He added, "There are many sculptures depicting scenes like the hometown spring choir or herds of pigs walking around. The (Eternal Atonement) sculpture is one of them. I wanted to create something meaningful as a piece in the plant garden, so I conceptualized and made it, but I did not expect it to become such an issue."

In response to criticism from the Japanese government and media that the sculpture represents former Prime Minister Abe, he said, "No, although I did say it would be good if it were Abe, it is a personal expression hoping that someone responsible would apologize and take responsibility. The controversy about it being Abe is irrelevant. If something bothers you, you can think of it as Abe; if not, then not."

He continued, "Just as German Chancellor Willy Brandt knelt and apologized to the Jews who were victims of the Nazis, the subject is someone who apologizes, not specifically Abe. Abe is someone who will soon step down anyway. I don't think the sculpture represents him, so that's why I did it that way."

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe [Photo by Yonhap News]

He also said, "Compared to the wrongs they committed, this is nothing. The issues are ongoing, such as their continued claims over Dokdo and trade disputes. Their attitude toward Korea in the international community is not a matter of courtesy, yet calling a privately made artwork disrespectful is a self-centered statement. A farmer or a plant garden operator wouldn't do this with political intentions. I just made a sculpture expressing a hope for things to be better."

Finally, he said, "The Japanese media are trying to escalate this situation, but whether it escalates or not doesn't matter to me. I want to make it clear that I have no such intention. This is simply my personal thought turned into an artwork, nothing more or less, and I do not want it to become a problem. I also hope this can be an opportunity to create a positive outcome."

Earlier, on the 28th, the Japanese government pointed out that the so-called 'Abe Apology Statue' installed at a private plant garden in Korea, if the reports are true, would have a decisive impact on Korea-Japan relations.

Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, said at a press conference that day in response to related questions, "We have not confirmed the facts yet, but I think such things are not allowed under international protocol."

Meanwhile, the Pyeongchang Native Plant Garden had planned to hold an unveiling ceremony on the lawn within the garden on the 10th of next month to reveal the sculpture, but canceled the scheduled ceremony as it showed signs of escalating into a diplomatic conflict.

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