[OSENWORLD] In Sejong City, South Korea, a sculpture once derided as the “Grim Reaper Statue” may be making a comeback — five years after its removal — as fans, inspired by the global success of K-Pop Demon Hunters, rally for its return.
The metal artwork, officially titled Heunggeoun Uri Garak (“Joyful Korean Rhythm”), was installed in 2014 to represent the elegance of Korean traditional culture. Depicting a man in hanbok and gat with arms outstretched in a classic dance pose, it was intended to celebrate traditional Korean culture. But residents rejected it almost immediately, calling it “eerie” and “grotesque.” Complaints poured in, and critics dismissed it as a “taxpayer-funded monstrosity.”
After being relocated from the National Tax Service to the National Fire Agency, public criticism only grew louder — many argued the imagery of a deathlike figure was inappropriate near an emergency-response agency. By 2019, the statue was permanently dismantled and placed in storage.
Now, momentum for its reinstatement has emerged from an unlikely source: Netflix’s animated smash hit K-Pop Demon Hunters. Viewers noticed striking similarities between the sculpture and the movie’s fictional boy group Saja Boys (“Lion Boys”), whose designs borrow from Korean folkloric grim reapers. Online communities have since rebranded the statue as “ahead of its time” and “the true Saja Boys,” with some even filing petitions on Korea’s official public portal demanding its return.
K-Pop Demon Hunters, which follows the girl group Huntrix battling evil spirits in a music-video style spectacle, has become a global phenomenon. As of Sept. 3, the film logged 266 million viewing hours on Netflix, surpassing Squid Game to become the most-watched Netflix title to date. Fans argue the statue now represents a cultural icon rather than a failed public project.
Government officials remain cautious: “It’s difficult to reintroduce a piece that was once removed due to strong public opposition. Nothing has been finalized yet.” If pursued, the location of a possible reinstatement would be determined through review under Korea’s Cultural Promotion Act.
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Photo Courtesy of Netflix
