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       Historic Palace Vandalized With Graffiti in Seoul

       For two consecutive nights, the Gyeongbokgung palace was spray painted, in a country where such brazen vandalism is rare.

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       The Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds in Seoul in October. Credit...Anthony Wallace/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

       By Jin Yu Young

       Dec. 18, 2023Updated 1:45 a.m. ET

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       The Gyeongbokgung palace, a national treasure in the heart of South Korea’s capital that draws millions of visitors each year, was vandalized with graffiti twice over the weekend.

       Parts of the 14th century palace were spray painted in red and blue on Saturday and Sunday nights, according to the police. The police said at least two people acted on Saturday, and at least one person did on Sunday. They have yet to identify the suspects from Saturday. One person handed themselves in to police on Monday morning. Police have not determined a motive.

       While graffiti is more common in alleyways and tunnels in South Korea, heritage sites are a rare target in the country, and have special protections under the law, with violators facing stiff prison sentences and fines.

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       Jin Yu Young reports on South Korea and other countries in Asia from the Seoul newsroom. She joined The Times in 2021. More about Jin Yu Young

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