Man in His 70s Arrested for Scribbling 'Trump' Graffiti on Gyeongbokgung Stone Wall

On the morning of the 11th, a partition was installed on the stone wall at Gwanghwamun. Cultural Heritage Administration

A man in his 70s was apprehended at the scene and handed over to the police after scribbling graffiti on the stone wall at Gwanghwamun in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul.

According to the Cultural Heritage Administration, at around 8:10 a.m. on the 11th, a 79-year-old man, identified as Mr. A and residing in Seoul, was discovered by an on-site staff member writing the phrase "A message to the people and the world, President Trump~" in black marker on the stone platform below Gwanghwamun. The staff member reported the incident to the control room. Mr. A was immediately stopped and handed over to the police. The reason and background for the graffiti have not been identified.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that, together with conservation experts from the National Palace Museum of Korea's Artifact Science Division, the graffiti would be removed within the day. An official stated, "Under the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Utilization Act, we can order restoration to the original state and claim restoration costs," adding, "We will respond strictly to acts of damage against Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty."

Gyeongbokgung Palace also suffered graffiti damage at the end of 2023. At that time, a teenager left spray-painted graffiti on Yeongchumun Gate and a side gate near the National Palace Museum of Korea after being offered 3 million won to do so. It was estimated that about 131 million won was spent to remove the graffiti.