Man, 79, arrested for vandalizing Gwanghwamun wall
According to the Korea Heritage Service, a security officer on duty found the man, identified only by the surname Kim, writing on the stone wall at around 8:10 a.m. on Monday. Kim, a resident of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, used a black marker to write a message beginning with, 'A letter to the people and the world, President Trump … .'
The security officer immediately intervened, halted the act of vandalism and reported the incident to the palace's security center. Kim was subsequently taken into custody and handed over to police for investigation. Authorities have not yet determined Kim's motive.
The Korea Heritage Service confirmed that conservation experts from the National Palace Museum of Korea were dispatched to begin removing the graffiti. The cleanup was expected to be completed by the end of the day.
'This is a serious act of damage against Gyeongbokgung, a symbol of our national heritage and the main royal palace of the Joseon era,' a Korea Heritage Service official said. 'We will respond strictly.'
Under South Korea's Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, individuals who deface cultural properties may be ordered to restore the damage and pay the full cost of the restoration.
This is not the first time the palace has been targeted by a vandal. In late 2023, a teenager spray-painted graffiti on Yeongchumun and a side entrance near the National Palace Museum. The act was reportedly motivated by a false promise of a 3 million won ($2,120) reward. The cleanup cost was estimated at 131 million won.
Gyeongbokgung, originally constructed in 1395, is one of Korea's most treasured cultural landmarks and a major tourist destination.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
With both Yoon, Kim detained, what becomes of their 11 pets?
While impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee are detained, their six dogs and five cats are reportedly being cared for by Kim's acquaintances, according to local media reports Sunday. The 11 pets are staying at the couple's home in Seocho-dong, Seoul. Staff from Covana Contents, an art exhibition company run by Kim, along with her acquaintances, are said to visit the house to feed and care for them. With both Yoon and Kim detained, the presidential security office is considering how to handle the pets' situation. Under the Presidential Security Act, the office must protect Yoon until April 2035, despite his impeachment and arrest. The law defines 'guard' duties as preventing or removing threats to protect the subject's life and property. Although Kim's acquaintances are currently looking after the pets, many of them are under investigation by special prosecutors. Even after the couple left their residence at Acrovista in Seoul's Seocho-gu, security guards remained stationed there. However, their presence will be gradually scaled back, with only minimal personnel remaining to monitor against trespassing.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Ex-first lady's 'butler' arrested over embezzlement charges in special counsel probe
An associate of former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been arrested on charges of embezzlement as part of a special counsel probe targeting the former first lady. The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for Kim Ye-seong, known as the "butler" of the former first lady's family, late Friday, citing concerns that he could destroy evidence and is a flight risk. Kim is accused of embezzling 3.38 billion won (US$2.43 million) from IMS Mobility, a company he helped establish, in 2023. A special counsel team requested the arrest warrant Thursday, two days after he was detained by investigators upon returning from Vietnam in what they believe was an attempt to flee following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee's husband. Kim Ye-seong is suspected of receiving 18.4 billion won in illegal investments from several companies, including Kakao Mobility Corp., for IMS Mobility. Considering that IMS Mobility was effectively in a state of capital impairment at the time of the investments, the special prosecutors suspect the companies invested in IMS Mobility in consideration of its connection to Kim and the former first lady. The special counsel team is also looking into whether the embezzled funds or related profits were funneled to the former first lady's family. Kim has denied any wrongdoing and described the special counsel's investigation as a "witch hunt." He has been closely associated with the former first lady for over a decade and is believed to have extensive knowledge of the family's financial matters.
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Korea Herald
Jailed ex-first lady to appear for questioning by special counsel
Jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee will appear for questioning by a special counsel team Thursday, less than two days after her arrest over corruption allegations. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team said Wednesday it was informed by Seoul Southern Detention Center, where Kim was placed in custody earlier in the day, that she plans to comply with the summons for 10 a.m. Thursday. The team had said earlier she was asked to appear at its office at the KT Gwanghwamun West building in central Seoul at that time for her first questioning since her arrest. She is expected to travel to the office in a justice ministry prison van. The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant for her arrest late Tuesday, citing concerns she could destroy evidence. Kim faces charges of participating in a stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in South Korea, from 2009 to 2012, meddling in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and 2024 general elections, and receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman in exchange for business favors. Min's team had requested the warrant on charges of violations of the Capital Market Act, the Political Funds Act and a law on the acceptance of bribes for mediation. Kim's arrest made her and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, the first presidential couple to be detained simultaneously. Yoon is under arrest at a different detention center over charges related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December. (Yonhap)
