Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, visited the "Garden of Gratitude" completion ceremony on the 12th. The Garden of Gratitude is a space set up in Gwanghwamun Square to commemorate the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War and the veterans, and Oh pushed it as a priority project during his tenure.
The Democratic Party of Korea and candidate Chong Won-o's camp have criticized the Garden of Gratitude as an emblem of far-right militarism and a waste of taxpayers' money.
On the 12th, Oh attended the "Garden of Gratitude" completion ceremony held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
In a congratulatory address, Oh said, "More than 70 years ago, young people with different skin and language came to this land for a country whose name was unfamiliar on the map," and added, "Young people fought for liberal democracy in a strange land, and with that nobility, the Republic of Korea was able to rise again from the ruins of war to become a nation of prosperity."
He went on, "Until now, there has been no space where global citizens remember the Republic of Korea's liberal democracy and prosperity," adding, "The Garden of Gratitude fills that void."
He also said, "Today is a day to offer sincere gratitude and respect to those who sacrificed without names for the Republic of Korea's liberal democracy and peace."
The Garden of Gratitude consists of "Light of Gratitude," a stone sculpture symbolizing the 22 participating nations and Korea, and "Freedom Hall," which houses media works that honor the participating countries and veterans and depict Korea's growth safeguarded by their sacrifice.
The Democratic Party of Korea has mounted political attacks, calling the Garden of Gratitude an emblem of far-right militarism.
On the 7th, candidate Chong's camp held a press conference with civic groups including the National Movement for Korean Language Refinement and said, "It is hard to avoid suspicion that the Garden of Gratitude is a 'far-right courting political project' aimed at rallying the base ahead of the election," adding, "Gwanghwamun Square does not belong to any particular political force."
Also that morning, candidate Chong Won-o met with reporters at a campaign pledge event and, regarding the Garden of Gratitude, criticized, "More than 20 billion won of citizens' taxes went into it, and the original purpose has been greatly undermined," adding, "Pushing it through hastily and even holding today's completion ceremony reveals it was for electioneering, not out of gratitude to the participating countries."