Increasing CCTV on Gyeongbokgung Palace Walls... "No Technical Issues with Restoration"

Over 400 CCTV Cameras Manage Gyeongbokgung
Blind Spots Remain
Gyeongbokgung Manager Plans to Add More CCTV for Improvement

In relation to the incident where the wall near Yeongchumun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul was repeatedly vandalized with spray graffiti, additional installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras is being considered as a measure to prevent recurrence. Although there are about 400 CCTV cameras managing Gyeongbokgung Palace, most of them monitor the interior, so it was judged that it is urgent to supplement blind spots outside the walls. Restoration of the graffiti-damaged wall is expected to be not difficult. Regarding concerns that restoration might be difficult due to the 40-meter-long graffiti and freezing weather, Ko Jeong-ju, the head of Gyeongbokgung Palace management office, stated, "Technically, restoration is not particularly difficult."

On the 19th, Ko appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and explained that there is a lack of CCTV cameras monitoring the walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace due to a management system focused on buildings, and that there are plans to expand CCTV installation in the future. He said, "The management system is mostly built around buildings inside, and around the outer perimeter of Gyeongbokgung's walls, most of the areas are formed as sidewalks where ordinary citizens can stroll and walk," adding, "The number of cameras installed outside is considerably insufficient compared to those inside."

He continued, "There are some cameras installed outside now, but there may still be blind spots," and said, "To minimize those parts, we are currently planning to additionally install CCTV cameras outside." He also added, "If additional CCTV cameras are installed, we will reinforce personnel accordingly and regularly supplement through patrols."

On the morning of the 17th, officials from the Cultural Heritage Administration were removing graffiti sprayed by someone the previous day on the wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace near the side gate of the National Palace Museum in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the restoration of the damaged wall, he said it is not a difficult issue. Ko explained, "The spray paint was applied over dust or some foreign substances on the existing surface, so when removing that part, there may be some slight differences compared to the traces on the adjacent existing surface," but added, "Those parts will be restored to generally match the surrounding texture."

Meanwhile, an incident where the walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace were repeatedly vandalized with graffiti occurred last weekend. According to Jongno Police Station, at around 1:50 a.m. on the 16th, someone used spray paint to graffiti the Yeongchumun Gate and walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace, as well as the left and right walls of the side gate of the National Palace Museum of Korea, and new graffiti was discovered again the next day on the 17th. The police are tracking two suspects in the first incident, and a male suspect in his 20s in the second incident surrendered one day after the crime.

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