In Sejong City, there is growing interest in whether the artwork, known as the 'grim reaper sculpture' and previously dismantled, will be reinstalled after 11 years. Discussions about its reinstall coincide with the global success of the Netflix animation 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' (hereinafter referred to as 'Keduhun').
According to the Government Sejong Complex Management Headquarters on the 3rd, related authorities are reviewing the practical reinstallation of the metal sculpture 'Heunggyeoun Urigarak,' which was installed in 2014 and then removed. The figure depicts a man in traditional dress, wearing a gat, and performing a 'Hallyangmu' dance, with the original intention of expressing the elegance of Korean traditional culture.
However, public reactions were cold. Complaints such as 'it is creepy' and 'it is bizarre' flooded in, and criticism that 'tax funds were used to create an eyesore' followed. Ultimately, the sculpture was moved from in front of the National Tax Service to near the Fire Department, but public sentiment continued that 'a statue reminiscent of grim reapers next to a disaster response agency is inappropriate,' leading to its complete removal in 2019. Since then, the sculpture has been stored in the underground parking lot of the Government Sejong Complex.
Recently, the situation has changed. The story that the image of the boy group 'Lion Boys' in 'Keduhun' resembles the sculpture has spread. Responses such as 'a sculpture that met the wrong era' and 'the true Lion Boys' poured out on online communities, along with demands for reinstallation through the National Petition System.
'Keduhun,' a box-office hit, depicts the story of a K-Pop girl group, HuntRix, fighting against evil spirits. Its lavish production and OST, which unfold like a music video, have been praised for introducing Korean cultural elements to the world. On the 3rd, it recorded a cumulative viewing number of 266 million based on Netflix's Tudum, surpassing 'Squid Game' to become the most-watched title in Netflix history.
A government official noted, 'Reintroducing a sculpture that was removed due to negative public opinion has to be approached cautiously' and added, 'Nothing has been confirmed yet.' If reinstallation is pursued, the location will be finally decided after deliberation under the Cultural Arts Promotion Act.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix
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