Park Han-sol reports on Korea's financial regulators, along with fintech and insurance. She previously wrote about the art world, from biennales and exhibitions to fairs and auctions, with a focus on Seoul and the figures shaping the scene. Before joining The Korea Times, she spent a year at ABC News' Seoul bureau, contributing to coverage of major Asia-Pacific events.
Defaced Gyeongbok Palace walls unveiled after cleanup
Tourists walk by a gate of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, which has been cleaned up after being hit by graffiti twice last month, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Park Han-sol
State agency intends to seek compensation for restoration costs from vandalism suspects
The walls of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, which were hit by graffiti twice in December, have been restored to “near completion” and were unveiled to the public, Thursday.
The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) announced its intention to seek compensation for the costs incurred in restoring the state-designated cultural property from the perpetrators — an amount estimated to be at least 100 million won ($76,300). The agency also revealed strengthened measures to prevent future damage to heritage sites nationwide.
Parts of the historic 14th-century palace were vandalized with spray paint on two separate occasions on Dec. 16 and 17. The total damage, which occurred on both sides of Yeongchumun, the palace’s western gate, as well as the wall near the National Palace Museum of Korea, spanned 36.2 meters.
Three suspects were apprehended in the following days. If convicted, they could face a minimum three years in prison, in accordance with the Cultural Heritage Protection Act.
In a press conference on Thursday, the CHA officials reported that the restoration is “approximately 80 percent complete,” noting that the initial phase of treatment focused primarily on removing "spray contaminants."
For the eight-day operation conducted between Dec. 16 and 28, the expenses for renting specialized equipment such as laser cleaners, steam washers and blasting machines, along with other consumables like protective gear and canisters, totaled over 21 million won.
An official at the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage demonstrates how laser equipment was used to remove paint from the walls of Gyeonbok Palace at the site in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
When combined with the yet-to-be-determined labor costs for the 234 conservation experts and government workers involved in the project, the estimated total is expected to reach at least 100 million won, according to Go Jung-ju, director of the Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office.
The CHA intends to claim compensation from the suspects once the total restoration cost is determined.
Meanwhile, following the December incidents, a state-run survey of four of the major palaces, as well as Jongmyo Shrine and royal tombs from the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom revealed numerous other scribbles and engravings left behind over the years on the buildings’ columns and walls.
A pedestrian stands in front of red and blue graffiti that reads "free movie" spray-painted on a wall of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, Dec. 16, 2023. Yonhap
“The CHA will take stern measures when encountered with malicious acts of vandalism that are similar in nature to that of Gyeongbok Palace. We will also implement enhanced preventive measures against damage to heritage sites, in addition to raising public awareness through promotion and education,” the agency’s head Choi Eung-chon said.
The agency will bolster security at major heritage sites by increasing patrols and installing additional surveillance cameras.
By 2025, a total of 110 surveillance cameras will be added to monitor the outer walls of the four palaces, Jongmyo Shrine and Sajikdan Altar — including an additional 20 for Gyeongbok Palace. Currently, there are 415 cameras positioned at 200 locations within the palatial grounds and 14 at nine locations on the periphery.
Tourists walk near a wall of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, which has now been cleaned up after being hit by graffiti twice last month, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Patrols will also be intensified. At Gyeongbok Palace, nighttime patrols will be increased to eight times per 24 hours this year from the previous two to four times. Cooperation with local police stations will be established to ensure continuous police patrols along the outer boundaries as well.
To further raise public awareness regarding the protection of national heritage, the CHA plans to incorporate an anti-vandalism provision in its banners, leaflets and tickets, as well as on its online channels.
In conjunction with these nationwide initiatives, the agency aims to encourage the public to actively report instances of vandalism through its website and a dedicated hotline.