"Bear Family Sculpture Not Aligned with Seoul Policy" Complaint Leads Seoul Botanical Garden to Remove It

Request to Change Three-Bear Family to Five Bears
Complainant: "Does Not Align with Policies for Families with Multiple Children"
New Sculpture with Social Message Planned

The three bear sculptures installed at Seoul Botanical Garden in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, are set to be removed following a complaint that they "encourage low birth rates." On May 7, Newsis reported, citing the Seoul city government, that the bear sculptures are scheduled for removal in response to a recent complaint filed by a complainant identified as A against Seoul Botanical Garden.

Seoul Botanical Garden empathizes with concerns about low birth rates and has decided to completely remove the controversial sculpture. Seoul Botanical Garden stated, "Population decline due to low birth rates is a significant issue affecting society as a whole, and to address this, our garden is also making efforts such as offering admission discounts for families with multiple children." Seoul Botanical Garden website

Previously, A had submitted a complaint to Seoul Botanical Garden, stating, "The bear family sculpture inside the garden currently consists of three bears (father, mother, and baby). In the current generation, low birth rates are a national and social issue, and this does not align with Seoul's policy for families with multiple children." In particular, A requested, "Please create the bear family sculpture with five bears (father, mother, and three babies). This would be in line with national and social policies, and I believe that children who see it will naturally accept having siblings." A further added, "I think that improving even these small aspects could serve as an opportunity to change the deeply rooted perception of low birth rates in the current generation."

Seoul Botanical Garden has decided to completely remove the controversial sculpture, expressing empathy with concerns about low birth rates. The garden stated, "Population decline due to low birth rates is a significant issue affecting society as a whole, and to address this, our garden is making efforts such as offering admission discounts for families with multiple children." Additionally, Seoul Botanical Garden explained that the bear family sculpture itself has become outdated. The garden said, "As you requested, adding three baby bears is not feasible because the artificial turf covering the area is deteriorating and peeling off, and since the sculpture is located in front of a play area, many children use it for play, which raises safety concerns."

Three bear sculptures installed at Seoul Botanical Garden in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, are set to be removed following a complaint that they "encourage low birth rates." On the 7th, Newsis reported, citing the Seoul city government, that the bear sculptures are scheduled for removal in response to a recent complaint filed by a complainant identified as A against Seoul Botanical Garden. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Seoul Botanical Garden added, "We have determined that removal is the most appropriate action at this time, and we plan to remove the sculpture within May." The garden continued, "In the future, we will gather a variety of opinions to create sculptures that deliver social messages, including those related to low birth rates, in a safer and more effective manner."