The Calligraphy Stone of Jeon Du-hwan at Seoul Arts Center Was Removed on the 10th

The calligraphy stone inscribed with Jeon Du-hwan's name, which was installed within the grounds of the Seoul Arts Center, has been removed.

According to Lee Ki-heon, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the Seoul Arts Center removed the calligraphy stone on the 10th.

The calligraphy stone, engraved with the phrase '文化藝術 (Culture and Arts)의 暢達 (Promotion)' along with 'President Jeon Du-hwan,' was installed at the Seoul Arts Center on February 15, 1988.

The calligraphy stone of Jeon Du-hwan installed within the Seoul Arts Center grounds. Photo from July 2020 [Photo by Lee Ki-heon, Office of Assemblyman].

After Jeon was convicted by the Supreme Court in 1997 on charges including rebellion and leading a rebellion, there were continuous calls for the removal of the calligraphy stone.

Following criticism in the National Assembly in 2020, the Seoul Arts Center kept the calligraphy stone but covered only the phrase 'President Jeon Du-hwan' with landscaping plants.

In the October 2022 national audit, Assemblyman Lee Ki-heon urged, "It is inappropriate for the calligraphy stone of Jeon Du-hwan, who was convicted by the Supreme Court for rebellion and related charges, to be installed at the Seoul Arts Center, a representative complex cultural and arts space of the Republic of Korea. It should be removed as soon as possible." Immediately after the audit, the Seoul Arts Center held an internal executive meeting and confirmed through the National Archives and the Presidential Archives that there was no issue with removing the calligraphy stone. Then, on the 20th of last month, they received approval from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and finally removed the calligraphy stone.

Assemblyman Lee Ki-heon said, "Although late, I am glad that the calligraphy stone has been removed now," and expressed deep gratitude to Jang Hyung-jun, president of the Seoul Arts Center, and all related personnel who worked for the removal of Jeon Du-hwan’s calligraphy stone. He added, "I hope this removal brings some comfort to the hearts of the people who were hurt by Jeon Du-hwan," and declared, "Going forward, we will continue to pursue and hold accountable those responsible for crimes of rebellion to completely eradicate their remnants."

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