Political mural satirizing ruling and opposition presidential candidates draws attention on the exterior wall of a used bookstore in Seoul on the 30th of last month
The exterior wall of a used bookstore in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, depicting a mural of actress Kim Bu-seon, has been vandalized with a marker pen. / Photo by Kim Bu-seon Facebook
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Actress Kim Bu-seon, who damaged the so-called 'Kim Bu-seon mural' painted on the exterior wall of a secondhand bookstore in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno, Seoul, expressed her apology, saying she feels "a little sorry to the artist."
On the 6th, Kim wrote on her Facebook, "After the artist saw my work, he said in an interview with a media outlet, 'I didn't expect this, it's the first time I've experienced something like this, so I'm bewildered,'" adding, "I also didn't expect that I wouldn't erase my low-quality writings like these for such a long time."
She also encouraged the artist regarding the painting of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, saying, "It's the coolest. And I'm sorry."
The mural Kim mentioned was painted on the 30th of last month by graffiti artist 'Tankshi.' At that time, Tankshi painted a mural depicting the controversial preferential development allegations related to Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, in Daejang-dong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, as well as the controversy over his elder brother's psychiatric hospital admission, and Kim's face was also drawn in the process.
In response, Kim criticized on her Facebook on the 1st, saying, "This vulgar political artist's degenerate art disguised as art is an act of violence that caused irreversible wounds and serious insults to my dignity and that of my family."
She also visited the site where the mural was painted, damaged the part where her face was drawn by coloring over it with a marker pen, and posted a 'proof shot.' She said, "The law is far away, but the marker pen is close. Next time, I'll paint over it with paint."
A new mural depicting figures who appear to be presidential candidates is being painted on the exterior wall of a used bookstore in Gwancheol-dong. / Photo by Yonhap News
On the same day, graffiti artist Tankshi explained in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Pyo Chang-won's News High Kick' about his work, saying, "I organized the issues that are controversial among people and drew them in a mind map format," adding, "It is not at all a criticism of that person (Kim Bu-seon). I want to believe that she, as a fellow artist, will understand."
Meanwhile, the secondhand bookstore where the mural was painted had previously become famous for political satire murals. In July, the so-called 'Julie mural,' which dealt with allegations related to Yoon's wife, Kim Geon-hee, became the center of controversy.
Recently, paintings depicting candidate Lee and candidate Yoon as 'heroes' also attracted attention. Graffiti artist 'Ninbolt' likened candidate Lee to the movie character 'Iron Man,' and Tankshi depicted Yoon holding an umbrella over a boy.
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