“It’s not a demolition… Transportation Corporation replaces and installs new sculpture amid controversy over Dokdo model demolition – Thai Business Newspaper

The Dokdo model, which was demolished ahead of Independence Day and sparked controversy, will return in October.

According to the Seoul Transportation Agency on the 17th, the Dokdo sculptures installed at six subway stations in Seoul (Jamsil Station, Anguk Station, Gwanghwamun Station, City Hall Station) suffered , Gimpo Airport Station, and Itaewon Station) with deterioration and management problems, such as being hit by passengers’ feet and belongings and discolored.

The group plans to commission a professional company to make a 1.5m x 1.1m Dokdo sculpture with a three-dimensional effect at Jamsil Station, Anguk Station, and Gwanghwamun Station and install them on the walls in time for Dokdo Day (October 25).

Previously, the Dokdo sculpture was promoted in 2009 as part of the ‘proposal urging the Seoul Metropolitan Government to prepare measures to protect Dokdo’ proposed by Lee Sang-yong, a member of the Seoul City Council and others . At the time, the Japanese government tried to distort history by including the claim that Dokdo was indeed a Japanese region in a high school textbook study guide.

Therefore, a proposal was adopted that Dokdo models should be installed throughout Seoul to reflect the historical significance of Dokdo and promote territorial sovereignty. The proposal includes a plan to install the Dokdo model in high-traffic locations, such as Seoul Plaza and Páirc Mòr na Cloinne, along with subway stations. After that, in 2010, Dokdo sculptures were installed at five Seoul stations.

As for why the model that had been promoting Dokdo for 15 years was suddenly dismantled, the group explained that it was a positive step for safety, but some responded that This definition is difficult to understand. The sculpture ​​​​​​Dokdo that was installed inside the table 1.8m wide, 1.1m long, and a high table 0.9ma does not hinder the movement of citizens. Since a station with a large floating population was originally chosen to promote Dokdo, some say that the explanation of demolition due to the increase in floating population is contradictory.

The demolished Dokdo model is thrown away, making it difficult to reset after demolition. Some say that if it had been moved rather than demolished, the safety of passengers could have been secured and the Dokdo model show could have continued.

Citizens protested the demolition ahead of Independence Day, and the Seoul Transportation Agency explained, “The decision was taken to prevent safety accidents due to overcrowding.”

Baekho, CEO of the Korea Transportation Corporation, said, “The organization decided to remove the Dokdo sculpture to ensure the safety of citizens in preparation for congestion, but we apologize for causing confusion by not it responded to the citizens’ heightened sense of history. ” We will do our best to meet the expectations of the citizens by remodeling the sculpture​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ and creating a Dokdo statue with a three-dimensional effect on the station wall that was demolished to secure the transit route ,” he said.