From Ahn Jung-geun to Song Joong-ki... The Story Behind 215 Statues Erected Nationwide [Statue Report]

Which Statues Has South Korea Erected Since 1990?
Most Frequently: An Jung-geun, Park Chung-hee, Yi Sun-sin
Statues of Foreigners, Entertainers, and Sports Stars Also Erected

Editor's NoteA statue is erected to honor the achievements of an individual and to pass on their legacy to future generations. Preserving someone's likeness in perpetuity goes beyond mere sculpture creation. How many statues has modern South Korea erected, and of whom? Asia Economy analyzed records of unveiling ceremonies for statues of real historical figures from 1990 to this month, sourced from portal sites and local government websites.

After turbulent periods such as war, dictatorship, and democratization, modern South Korea has erected around 200 statues of real historical figures. Statues of independence activists and war heroes who defended the nation are the most numerous, and statues of former presidents have steadily increased. Additionally, as times changed, statues of civilians such as entertainers and sports stars who brought pride to their regions or helped promote localities have also appeared.

On the 12th, Asia Economy analyzed records of unveiling ceremonies for statues of real historical figures from portal sites and local government websites, revealing that South Korea erected 215 statues nationwide from 1990 through April this year. The most frequently erected statue is of An Jung-geun, an independence activist during the Japanese colonial period. Eight statues of him have been installed nationwide: 2 in Seoul, 3 in Gyeonggi Province, 1 in Gwangju Metropolitan City, 1 in Jeollabuk-do, and 1 in Jeollanam-do.

Statue of Ahn Jung-geun located in Namsan Park, Seoul. Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Memorial Facilities Information Service.

The second most common is former President Park Chung-hee. Most of Park’s statues are concentrated in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. There are 2 statues in Gumi City, and one each in Pohang, Gyeongju, and Andong. The statue in Gyeongju is not just of Park Chung-hee alone but depicts former Presidents Park Chung-hee and Park Geun-hye accompanied by three aides. Another statue, recently erected at Dongdaegu Station, sparked controversy. Since statues installed at universities and other educational institutions were excluded from the analysis, adding the two statues at Gumi Elementary School and Yeungnam University brings the total number of Park’s statues close to that of An Jung-geun.

Statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin also rank joint second with six statues. Three are located in Jeollanam-do, where the Battle of Myeongnyang took place at Uldolmok. Two statues are in Asan City, Chungcheongnam-do, where Yi Sun-sin is said to have spent his childhood, and one more is in Tongyeong City, Gyeongsangnam-do, where the decisive Battle of Hansando was won.

Conservative group members gathered around the Park Chung-hee statue installed in Dongdaegu Station Plaza are cheering. Photo by Yonhap News.

Next in number are statues of former President Kim Dae-jung, King Sejong the Great, independence activist Yu Gwan-sun, militia leader Jeon Bong-jun, and scholar Chusa Kim Jeong-hui, each with three statues erected nationwide during this period. Notably, Kim Dae-jung’s statues are concentrated in Jeollanam-do?in Mokpo City, Muan, and Sinan counties?contrasting with the concentration of Park Chung-hee’s statues in Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Photo of the unveiling ceremony of the statue of former President Kim Dae-jung held in 2010 in Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do. Mokpo City Hall.

Looking at the ages of the individuals commemorated by statues, the oldest is Queen Soseono, born in 66 BCE, whose statue stands in Eumseong County, Chungcheongbuk-do. The youngest is the statue of the Song-Song couple (actors Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki) at the Descendants of the Sun filming set in Taebaek City, Gangwon-do; actor Song Joong-ki was born in 1985. Excluding Queen Soseono, whose birth year greatly skews the average, the average birth year of the individuals commemorated is 1814. This likely reflects the positions held by these figures, as 70 statues (32% of the total) commemorate those who participated in independence or anti-Japanese movements.

Statues of generals who achieved great feats in battle, such as Yi Sun-sin and Gyebaek, total 21. There are also eight statues of soldiers, including the statue of war hero Lee Hee-bok in Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province, who reportedly ran into enemy lines carrying a bomb, and Major Seo Hyung-won’s statue in Goesan County, Chungcheongbuk-do, who played a significant role in suppressing armed communist guerrillas. Many of these statues were erected against the backdrop of the Korean War and the North-South division.

The water-friendly ceremony of Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue held in Asan City, Chungcheongnam-do. Asan City Hall.

There are also statues honoring foreigners. These include those who helped Korea during the Korean War or aided the country’s postwar recovery. In Nam-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, there is a statue of General Richard Whitcomb, known as the "father of war orphans." At the Pyeongtaek base in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province, where the U.S. 8th Army headquarters is located, stands a statue of General Walton Walker.

In Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, there is a statue of Father Pierre Ometer, who came to Korea to spread Catholicism and was martyred during persecution. In Hwaseong City, there is a statue of missionary Frank William Schofield, who publicized the Jeam-ri massacre committed by the Japanese overseas. In Gangjin County, Jeollanam-do, stands a statue of Hendrick Hamel, the protagonist of "Hamel’s Journal," and in Chilgok County, Gyeongsangbuk-do, a statue of General Harry Truman was erected at the controversial Dabudong Battle Memorial. The only foreign statue unrelated to Korean history is that of Mahatma Gandhi in Gimhae City, Gyeongsangnam-do, which was produced and donated by the Indian government as part of the 150th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth celebrations.

There are also statues of living individuals, mostly entertainers and sports stars, typically erected considering their local origins.

Among sports stars are statues of former football coach Lee Hoe-taek in Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province; football player Kim Nam-il in Jung-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City; and golfer Choi Kyung-ju in Wando County, Jeollanam-do. Among actors and entertainers, there are statues of actor Yoo Oh-sung in Yeongwol County, Gangwon-do; the Song-Song couple in Taebaek City, Gangwon-do; film director Im Kwon-taek in Jangseong County, Jeollanam-do; and actors Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo from the drama Winter Sonata in Chuncheon City, Gangwon-do. Politicians include former President Park Geun-hye’s statue erected alongside her father, former President Park Chung-hee, in Gyeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s statue in Eumseong County, Chungcheongbuk-do.

How We Analyzed This

From 1990 onward, we conducted a comprehensive survey of press releases and municipal news containing the keywords "statue" and "unveiling" on portal sites and local government websites. Through this, we compiled records of statue unveiling ceremonies held from 1990 through April of this year.

Busts and reliefs were excluded, and only statues modeled after real historical figures were analyzed. Therefore, statues such as the late Kim Bok-dong grandmother’s statue, the Statue of Peace, and worker statues were excluded. Statues erected at universities and other educational institutions were also excluded; only statues located in public places such as parks and memorial halls were included.