Seoul City "Im Oksang's 'Site of Memory' Sculpture to Be Removed as Planned"

Alternative Artwork Installation Plan

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 4th that it will proceed with the planned removal of the sculptural works by popular artist Im Oksang located at 'Gieok-ui Teo' in Namsan, Jung-gu.

On the morning of the same day, the city issued a statement titled "Seoul City's Position on the Removal of the Gieok-ui Teo Sculptures" under the spokesperson's name, stating that "removal is the only answer." Im recently became the subject of social controversy after being found guilty in the first trial of a sexual crime.

The city emphasized, "Gieok-ui Teo in Namsan is a memorial space to honor and remember the victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery," adding, "Leaving Im Oksang's work, who has been sentenced for sexual harassment, in such a meaningful space goes against the sentiments of not only the surviving comfort women but also the citizens."

It further stated, "The so-called 'Gieok-ui Teo Establishment Promotion Committee' should stop biased public opinion manipulation and cooperate so that the city can promptly remove Im's works."

According to a public opinion survey conducted among citizens, 65% of respondents said Im's works should be removed, while only 24% supported the committee's suggestion to delete only the artist's name from the sculptures. The city presented this public opinion as a basis for its decision regarding the removal.

It also pointed out, "Such actions by the Promotion Committee not only diminish the significance of Gieok-ui Teo but also deceive the comfort women and the public."

The city stressed, "This does not mean the disappearance of Gieok-ui Teo itself," clarifying, "Only Im's sculptures, which have distorted the meaning of the space, will be removed."

The city plans to thoroughly verify the artist and reflect public opinion as much as possible to reinstall replacement works that everyone can agree upon.

The city promised, "We will accept and develop the opinions of the Promotion Committee and the public to make Gieok-ui Teo a space that heals the painful history of the past together and deeply remembers it."

Earlier, after Im was sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial on charges of sexual assault, the city decided to remove all five of Im's works installed in municipal facilities. This decision was based on the reasoning that maintaining and preserving works by an artist who caused social controversy does not align with the purpose of public art.

The removal targets include Im's works "Eyes of the Earth" and "Navel of the World," which are installed at the Gieok-ui Teo, the Japanese Military Comfort Women Memorial Park in Namsan.

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