Defaced palace walls to be reopened to public on Jan. 4

Cultural Heritage Administration official works on the restoration of the vandalized Gyeongbok Palace wall on Dec. 19. [YONHAP]

The vandalized Gyongbok Palace walls will be restored and reopened to the public on Jan. 4., the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said Tuesday.

The restoration work on the walls, defaced with spray paint earlier this month, resumed on Tuesday after being put on pause due to inclement weather on Thursday, the CHA added.

It also plans to remove scribbles it found on pillars and walls of Seoul's three other Joseon Dynasty palaces, Jongmyo Shrine and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.

To prevent future damages, the administration said it will update its security system by increasing the number of security cameras and deploying more patrol personnel. Warning signs against vandalizing will be installed by Friday, and public announcements will be made at major historical sites.

A 17-year-old and his girlfriend were arrested on Dec. 19, four days after they spray-painted the walls of the most iconic palace in Seoul.

A 28-year-old copycat vandal surrendered himself on Dec. 18.

The 17-year-old said he was paid 50,000 won ($38) by an unidentified person, contacted through social media, to write the address of an illegal movie streaming site on the walls with spray paint.
His girlfriend also received 50,000 won.

They were instructed to spray-paint the King Sejong statue in Gwanghwamun as well, but the teen reportedly told authorities that he couldn't due to intense security.

The 28-year-old said he spray-painted the wall for artistic reasons, similar to the U.S.-based artists' group MSCHF, known for its satirical social commentary works.

A court rejected an arrest warrant for the teens, and they were sent home on Wednesday. However, an arrest warrant for the 28-year-old was issued on Friday.

A person who damages or steals pieces of cultural heritage could face a prison sentence of a minimum of 3 years.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]