Statue of Peace Returns to Public View After Six Years

The Statue of Peace, located in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was reunited with the public on April 1, with police barricades temporarily removed after approximately six years.

The barricades surrounding the statue were first erected in June 2020. The barriers were put in place as a protective measure after far-right groups, who have insulted the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery ('comfort women'), began holding counter-rallies near the statue demanding its removal.

For the time being, police plan to maintain a policy of temporarily removing the barricades only during the Wednesday Demonstrations (Su-yo Sivi) and then reinstalling them afterward. This decision is based on the assessment that the possibility of rallies by opposing groups or damage to the statue still remains. The full removal of the barricades is scheduled to be discussed again at the end of this month.

On this day, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Kang-hee visited the site during the Wednesday Demonstration to personally inspect the condition of the statue after the barricades were removed.