Seoul City Statement Rejects Bereaved Families' Proposal for 'Memory Space' Reinstallation TF
Seoul City: "Proposal Unacceptable According to New Gwanghwamun Plaza Development Intent"
Clashes Inevitable if Forced Removal Proceeds... Citizen Safety Network Sends Open Letter to Mayor Oh Se-hoon
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Despite demands from the Sewol ferry victims' families and related civic groups for alternative measures, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is set to proceed with the demolition of the 'Sewol Memory Space' for the Gwanghwamun Plaza restructuring project. If Seoul, which notified the demolition work by the 26th, moves forward with forced demolition, a clash is inevitable.
Seoul informed the families of the April 16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Families Association and the April 16 Promise National Solidarity (4·16 Solidarity) that demolition work would begin on the morning of the 26th. Prior to the full-scale demolition, Seoul had notified the demolition of the Sewol Memory Space on the 5th and requested the removal of internal items before the main demolition. Since the 23rd, Seoul officials have visited the Sewol Memory Space to pressure the families who are blocking the demolition.
In a statement released that morning, Seoul emphasized that demolition in July is unavoidable according to the construction progress, stating, "The new Gwanghwamun Plaza will be created as an open plaza without any structures. This plan has been conceived since the previous mayor’s term and will remain unchanged."
The Sewol Memory Space is a wooden building newly established on April 12, 2019. It was agreed to operate until December 2019 according to the Gwanghwamun restructuring project schedule, but the demolition was postponed to the end of last year through further negotiations. The families have requested Seoul to form a consultative body to discuss ways to preserve the memory space, but Seoul has refused to accept this.
Seoul stated, "The Sewol Memory Space cannot be relocated to another place or additionally installed after the Gwanghwamun Plaza construction," and dismissed the proposal, saying, "Installing or operating specific structures in Gwanghwamun Plaza does not align with the purpose of creating a new Gwanghwamun Plaza as an open and pedestrian plaza, so Seoul cannot accept this proposal."
As the standoff between the Sewol victims' families and Seoul continues over the demolition of the memory space, the families plan to guard the site to prevent a surprise demolition. The families said, "We want to discuss alternatives to remember the Sewol disaster in a place visible to citizens passing by," and added, "We plan to convey our position to Seoul while avoiding physical confrontation."
Civic groups have also been issuing statements demanding the preservation of the memory space one after another. On the 25th, Citizen Net, a civic group consisting of families of victims such as the Daegu subway disaster victims and the late Kim Yong-gyun’s mother, announced that they delivered a letter to Mayor Oh Se-hoon urging, "We earnestly request Seoul to stop the demolition of the Sewol Memory Space and prepare a plan to preserve it."
Meanwhile, the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) has filed an urgent relief petition with the National Human Rights Commission regarding the suspension of the demolition of the memory space.
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