Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Man faces indictment for vandalizing Peace Statue
The Peace Statue in Dongjak District, Seoul, was damaged. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
By Lee Hyo-jin
A man in his 20s is facing indictment for allegedly vandalizing a Peace Statue in Dongjak District, Seoul.
The statue, also known as the “statue of a girl,” symbolizes victims of wartime sex slavery. They are established in several cities in Korea and overseas by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance.
The man was arrested at the site as he was vandalizing the statue by hitting its face with a rock about 6:40 a.m. on May 20, according to Dongjak Police Station. The statue's left cheek, head and shoulder were damaged.
After an investigation, police sent the case to prosecutors on Thursday. The charges include property damage and violence. The man was also accused of attacking an official from the district office who was trying to restrain him.
Police said the suspect has admitted his crime and is reportedly receiving treatment for mental illness. Police found no connection between the crime and controversies surrounding the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance.