Old Dokdo Sculpture at Subway Station Reborn in Time for Dokdo Day

Aged Existing Sculptures (City Hall ② Station, Gimpo Airport Station, Itaewon Station) to Be Remodeled and Newly Presented to Citizens... Dokdo Sculptures at Jamsil ② Station, Anguk Station, Gwanghwamun Station Demolished for Citizen Safety... Three-Dimensional Sculpture Walls Installed... President Baekho: "Plan to Renovate Old and Aged Dokdo Sculptures... Will Strive to Meet Citizens' Heightened Historical Awareness"

Seoul Metro (President Baek Ho) announced that after 15 years since its installation in 2009, the Dokdo sculptures at City Hall② Station, Gimpo Airport Station, and Itaewon Station, which have significantly aged due to discoloration, deformation, and damage to protective facilities, will be completely remodeled and presented to citizens with a new appearance.

The Dokdo sculptures installed at six Seoul subway stations (Jamsil② Station, Anguk Station, Gwanghwamun Station, City Hall② Station, Gimpo Airport Station, and Itaewon Station) had suffered from aging and management difficulties, including being stepped on by passengers and their belongings and fading.

Furthermore, following the Itaewon incident, as improving congestion in subway stations became a social issue, the sculptures at Jamsil② Station, Anguk Station, and Gwanghwamun Station, which were removed due to obstructing passenger movement paths, will be recreated with a three-dimensional effect by a professional company and installed on the walls.

The Dokdo sculptures installed on the walls will measure 1.5m × 1.1m and are planned to be newly installed in time for Dokdo Day (October 25).

The removal of the Dokdo sculptures at Jamsil② Station, Anguk Station, and Gwanghwamun Station was part of proactive safety measures against subway congestion. The corporation is promoting the removal or relocation of facilities that may pose safety concerns to prevent passenger safety accidents caused by subway congestion.

Jamsil Station decided to remove the Dokdo sculpture installed in the concourse, judging that congestion would significantly increase in preparation for the opening of the Seoul Subway Line 8 Byeollae Line on August 10, which could hinder passenger movement safety.

At Anguk Station and Gwanghwamun Station, the sculptures were severely damaged and left unattended for a long time. Due to the surge in tourists following the recovery from COVID-19, the sculptures were removed to improve congestion in the underground stations.

Baek Ho, President of Seoul Metro, said, “Although the corporation decided to remove the Dokdo sculptures to ensure citizen safety in preparation for congestion, we apologize for causing confusion by not meeting the heightened awareness of the stations among citizens. We will remodel the old and deteriorated existing Dokdo sculptures and, for the stations where sculptures were removed to secure movement paths, produce three-dimensional Dokdo sculptures to be installed on the walls, striving to meet citizens’ expectations.”