"Not Sorry for Graffiti at Gyeongbokgung... I Was Creating Art," Excuse of the Copycat Criminal

US 'Mischief' Fan Claims
"Embarrassed by Misspelling"

A man in his 20s, identified as A, who turned himself in to the police after committing a second graffiti act on the wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, is reported to have claimed to be a fan of the famous American performance artist group 'Mischief.' It is also reported that A was previously investigated by the police for stealing an exhibit at an exhibition last month.

On the morning of the 20th, A posted a blog entry explaining the motive behind the graffiti on the Gyeongbokgung Palace wall. The post included photos of him wearing the same black padded jacket he wore during the police investigation, as well as images of the crime scene.

A stated, "I wanted to play the mischievous prank that Mischief talks about. I am sorry. No, I am not sorry. I was just doing art."

A man in his 20s, suspect A, who is a copycat offender vandalizing the wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace with spray graffiti, voluntarily appeared at Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the afternoon of the 18th, was investigated, and then went home. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Mischief is a group of four artists formed in New York, USA, in 2019, known primarily for their satirical art that subverts masterpieces and luxury goods. They have also been involved in lawsuits over copyright issues with major brands such as Nike.

A added, "I’m a bit embarrassed about the spelling mistake. It would have been better if the heart was black," expressing regret that he did not leave Mischief’s name properly.

He also said, "Everyone seems to be taking the situation too seriously," and added, "It’s just graffiti. People mention the incident of the burning of Sungnyemun and see me as a terrible person, but that won’t happen."

A is suspected of committing the second graffiti act on the Gyeongbokgung Palace wall on the 17th. It is known that he also posted a photo verifying the act immediately after the crime on his blog. He boasted, "Come to my exhibition. It will soon be wrapped up with a tent," and added, "Admission is free, just look with your eyes."

The police confirmed that the author of the blog post was indeed A. He voluntarily appeared at the Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the 18th, one day after the crime, and was investigated for about six hours.

Earlier, on the 16th, teenage male and female suspects who committed the first graffiti were also investigated by the police. They testified that they committed the act after receiving an offer of money from an acquaintance.