Russian Embassy Finally Takes Down "Victory Is Ours" Banner

15-meter banner removed earlier than planned
External "Defender of the Fatherland Day" event also canceled

The Russian Embassy in South Korea has taken down a banner from its exterior wall that sparked controversy for glorifying the Russia-Ukraine war, and it also canceled an outdoor event.

On the afternoon of the 24th, the Russian Embassy removed a 15-meter-long banner reading "Victory is ours" that had been hung on the outer wall of the embassy building in Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Although this phrase was used during World War II, it drew criticism as a diplomatic discourtesy. The banner, which is believed to have been put up around the 21st, was still visible as of the morning of this day, marking four years since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.

On the 22nd, a banner reading "Victory is ours" was hung on the exterior wall of the Russian Embassy building in Jung-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News

The embassy also canceled, just before it was to begin, a planned outdoor event in front of the building to mark "Defender of the Fatherland Day," switching it to an internal event instead. The exact reason for the cancellation has not been disclosed.

Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had conveyed its concerns to the embassy regarding the banner. In connection with this, the Russian Embassy in South Korea had stated that it planned to remove the banner after the conclusion of an event commemorating victory in World War II.

On the 23rd, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is an illegal act, and military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is a clear violation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions, as well as a serious threat to our security, and therefore must be stopped. We have consistently maintained this position." The official added, "From this perspective, we have conveyed our position to the Russian side regarding the recent posting of the banner on the exterior wall of the Russian Embassy building in South Korea and the public remarks made by the Russian ambassador to South Korea."

In response, the Russian Embassy in South Korea stated, "It is common practice to display various promotional materials, including banners, within embassy premises," adding, "Our embassy has previously displayed a banner on the building to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War. This banner was likewise put up in connection with Russia’s February public holidays, Diplomat’s Day and Defender of the Fatherland Day." The embassy went on to say, "The phrase on the banner is familiar to all Russian citizens, and we believe that, given its historical context, displaying such a banner does not hurt anyone’s feelings." It further explained, "Technically, it is not a structure intended to be installed for a long period of time, and we had planned to remove the banner after the commemorative events concluded, in accordance with our schedule."