Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on the 17th ordered a review to confirm whether there are any legal defects with the "Garden of Gratitude" that the Seoul Metropolitan Government is creating in Gwanghwamun. This sets up a confrontation with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon following the "redevelopment in front of Jongmyo" and the "Hangang bus accident."
On this day at Government Complex Seoul, Kim met with a civic group regarding the "Garden of Gratitude" project. The Garden of Gratitude is a project selected through a design competition after the city said it would create a symbolic space in Gwanghwamun Square. The core plan is to erect 22 sculptures, each 5.7 to 7.0 meters tall, symbolizing the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War, and to install beams of light emitted from the sculptures.
In the meeting with the prime minister, the civic group conveyed the view that it is inappropriate to create an authoritarian space and sculptures commemorating foreign troops in Gwanghwamun Square, a symbol of history and democracy. After the meeting, Kim moved with the head of the civic group to the Garden of Gratitude construction site.
Kim said, "Gwanghwamun is the face of the Republic of Korea, a representative national symbolic space, and the future symbol of a cultural nation," adding, "I doubt whether the public will understand the installation of a saluting gun sculpture in Gwanghwamun, which enshrines King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin." He continued, "Isn't it the case that even the premise of the project—the donation of stone materials by each country—has not been confirmed?" The city had drawn up a plan to source the sculptures from 22 countries.
Kim said, "From a national perspective, I hope we look far ahead and first confirm the will of the people," adding, "Aren't there plenty of alternative ways to express gratitude to the participating countries?"
Afterward, Kim ordered the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to check whether the Garden of Gratitude project has any legal or procedural issues and to report back.