Three booked for destroying controversial sculpture

Three college students who destroyed a controversial sculpture at Hongik University in Seoul were booked Wednesday.

Seoul Mapo Police Station said it booked two Hongik University students and one public service worker for destroying an outdoor sculpture early Wednesday.

Titled “It is Anywhere but Nowhere,” the artwork showed a hand gesture that symbolizes the ultra-right online community Ilbe. It was displayed from Tuesday as a graduation project of a 22-year-old arts major student surnamed Hong.

The three students claimed that they wanted to express their objection to what the sculpture symbolized.

The online community Ilbe is notorious for its extreme right-wing views and favoring male dominance and female objectification.

A few people had objected to the installation of the sculpture, with some even throwing eggs at it and demanding it be dismantled.

Hong, however, defended his work by saying that his piece does not intend to support or criticize Ilbe.

“My intention was to open up a debate on Ilbe by showing that (Ilbe) is prevalent in the society but actually intangible,” Hong said.

“We are at a point where we need to consider whether a witch-hunt against the (work’s) intention, false information and action that damages an art work is any different from the way Ilbe works.”

He said that while destroying his work could be considered a freedom of expression, those behind the action should also be held accountable for damaging the property.

The school’s sculpture department also expressed regret over the destroyed work.

“The intention of this sculpture was not to express an opinion about Ilbe but to raise a fundamental question about the Ilbe controversy over confusing social values, extreme confrontation and violence. Please consider the work as a student’s interest in society,” said department head Lee Soo-hong.

By Lee Hyun-jeong  (rene@heraldcorp.com)