Overview

• The Interior Ministry confirmed the dismantled Sejong sculpture is under review for possible reinstallation following the popularity of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters.
• Officials said any decision would proceed through a formal review under the Culture and Arts Promotion Act, which would also determine placement.
• The work, known as Joyful Korean Melody or translated as Our Merry Tune, was part of a six-piece public commission and portrays a traditional dancer wearing a gat.
• Criticism that the figure resembled a Korean grim reaper led to its relocation and removal, with reports differing on whether dismantling occurred in 2016 or in December 2019.
• The sculpture remains stored in the National Tax Service building’s underground parking lot as social media posts and petitions urge its reinstatement.