'President Trump' Graffiti on Gyeongbokgung Main Gate... 8.5 Million Won Spent on Removal

Five to Six Experts Deployed for Seven Hours of Work
Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office Provides Provisional Estimate, Legal Consultation Underway

It has been confirmed that approximately 8.5 million won was spent to remove graffiti written with a marker pen on the stone wall of Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated that it is considering legal action and may claim the restoration costs from the individual responsible for the graffiti.

Quoting an announcement from the Cultural Heritage Administration, Yonhap News reported on the 24th that the Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office deployed five to six conservation science experts on the 11th of this month to remove graffiti written on the Musaseok (rectangular stones stacked next to the arched stone) at Gwanghwamun.

The graffiti included phrases such as "A message to the people and the world" and "President Trump," and spanned approximately 1.7 meters in width and 0.3 meters in height.

The experts worked on-site for about seven hours, starting early in the morning. The process involved a blasting technique that sprays fine stone powder particles to remove contaminants from the stone surface.

Officials from the Cultural Heritage Science Department of the National Palace Museum were removing graffiti left on the stone wall of Gwanghwamun at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News

It was reported that renting laser equipment, specialized devices, and using various materials cost at least 8.5 million won. A representative from the Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office explained that this amount is a provisional estimate for the graffiti removal work, adding, "We are currently seeking legal advice on how to proceed moving forward."

The Cultural Heritage Administration defined the graffiti as a serious crime that damages the value of cultural heritage, and is currently reviewing response measures based on legal counsel. According to the current "Act on the Preservation and Use of Cultural Heritage," the person responsible for the graffiti may be ordered to restore the site to its original state, and the costs incurred for restoration can also be claimed from them.

The individual who committed the graffiti, identified as Kim (aged 79), was arrested by police on the day of the incident. According to the police investigation, Kim repeatedly made irrational statements at the scene, and was immediately placed under emergency hospitalization following the arrest. Emergency hospitalization is a system that allows a person suspected of having a mental illness or posing a significant risk to themselves or others to be admitted to a medical institution with the consent of a doctor and the police.

The police explained, "Given Kim's advanced age, psychological instability, and the possibility of reoffending, emergency action was unavoidable."