Seoul looking to kill off sculpture of 'The Host' monster in Hangang Park

Social Affairs

Published: 18 Apr. 2024, 15:16 Updated: 18 Apr. 2024, 16:20

Seoul looking to kill off sculpture of 'The Host' monster in Hangang Park

Foreign tourists take photos with the sculpture of the monster featured in the 2006 Korean film ″The Host″ at Hangang Park in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Thursday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the same day it will decide on the removal of the sculpture after holding a meeting with a public art review committee next month. [NEWS1]

The sculpture of the monster from the 2006 Korean film "The Host" is expected to be demolished after a decade in Hangang Park.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday, an art review committee is set to decide on the removal of outdated structures ruining the city's aesthetics and posing safety risks at parks along the Han River, including the monster sculpture, next month.

The replica of the monster in the megahit movie was installed at Yeouido Hangang Park in western Seoul — between the Mapo and Wonhyo bridges — in 2014, during the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's term. The sculpture was intended to serve as a tourist attraction related to the movie. The film, directed by Bong Joon-ho, attracted 10 million moviegoers in 2006.

Around 180 million won ($130,970) was spent on the 10-meter-long by three-meter-tall structure. However, it was often criticized as a waste of the city’s budget as it detracted from the urban landscape's aesthetics.

The removal of the structure may take place as early as within the first half of the year following the committee’s review and consultations with experts.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]