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| ▲ Pedestrians look at red and blue graffiti that reads "free movie" sprayed on the walls of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul on Dec. 16, 2023. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Phrases that read "free movie" in Korean are sprayed in red and blue on both sides of the western gate to Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul in this photo provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration on Dec. 16, 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) Seoul palace-vandalism
(LEAD) Police tracking suspect of graffiti vandalism at Seoul palace
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- Police are tracking down the person behind graffiti sprayed on the walls of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, officials said Saturday.
The suspect repeatedly sprayed the phrase "free movie" in Korean, in red and blue paint, on both sides of the western gate to the palace and palace walls near the National Palace Museum of Korea at around 1:50 a.m., according to officials.
Also sprayed were the names of illegal video-sharing and streaming platforms, with one of the names sprayed on the walls of the nearby Seoul Metropolitan Agency.
Police are analyzing CCTV footage and reviewing whether they can hold the suspect accountable for violating the Cultural Protection Heritage Act, according to officials.
The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA), which preserves cultural assets, said it will swiftly launch a probe and restore the damage.
The agency has temporarily covered up the graffiti and plans to dispatch preservation specialists to the scene to clean and restore affected parts.
CHA said it is closely cooperating with police and plans to install more CCTV cameras in the area to better preserve and manage the walls of the Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace.
Gyeongbok Palace is a state-designated historic site, with the affected gate and the walls all recognized as cultural heritage.
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