The sculptures that symbolize LA Koreatown have been left in a state of disrepair for three years, much to the dismay of residents who have repeatedly complained to city council offices and Korean American organizations, without any visible change.
In just 10 days, the Wilshire Center-Koreatown Neighborhood Council (WCKNC) received 14 complaints, five of which were about the vandalism of the iconic sculptures on Olympic Boulevard.
Two sculptures, designed as miniature towers with the word “WELCOME,” lie vandalized on Olympic Boulevard, between Vermont and Western Avenue. One is situated on Hobart Boulevard, and the other is near Kenmore Avenue.
These once striking sculptures now bear graffiti and have had their bases pulled out, leaving them surrounded by plastic barricades and yellow tape, which the City of Los Angeles installed.
Residents speculate that the vandalism was a result of a car crash, strong winds, or gang activity. The last time the sculpture was vandalized was back in November 2020. At that time, a resident told the Korea Daily that the Hobart side of the sculpture was knocked down overnight.
The troubling issue is that the sculptures have remained unrepaired for nearly three years. Janice Lee, a 20-year resident of Koreatown, expressed her frustration, saying, “I’ve been observing it for the past year, and no one has fixed it. This is the first time I’ve contacted the council. I feel disheartened that nothing is being done about it.”
Cady Seo, an office worker who has spent 20 years in the area, added, “It’s an important symbol marking the boundary of Koreatown on Olympic Boulevard, where many people pass by every day. I’m disheartened to see it vandalized for such a long time.” She disclosed that she had brought the matter to the attention of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles a year ago, but the repair remains pending.
The sculpture was erected in 2011 as part of the Olympic Blvd. Streetscape Project. In addition to these sculptures, there was once a sphere-shaped “KOREATOWN” sculpture near Kingsley Drive. However, the city removed it in 2018, and it has not been restored since.
According to the WCKNC, the main reason behind the mismanagement of the Olympic Boulevard sculptures is the absence of an organization responsible for their maintenance.
“The government solely funds redevelopment, and the community is left to cover maintenance costs,” stated Mark Lee, chairman of the WCKNC. “We attempted to establish an Olympic BID (Business Improvement District), a group of building owners and businessmen along Olympic Boulevard, to collect taxes for maintenance funding. Unfortunately, the plan did not succeed.”
The plan would have required the cooperation of the neighborhood council, but the Pico Union neighborhood council, which intersects Olympic Boulevard from north to south, opposed the idea, leaving the WCKNC in a state of internal turmoil, he explained.
Chairman Lee affirmed that the sculpture repair will be on the agenda for next month’s regular meeting. Following that, they plan to submit a Community Impact Statement (CIS), a function of the neighborhood council, to expedite the repair process. The CIS will ultimately be forwarded to the department through the L.A. City Council.
Lee anticipates that it may take three to four months before any tangible results can be seen in the repair efforts.
BY SUAH JANG [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
