Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said the government is reviewing a stop-work order for the "Garden of Gratitude" project under construction at Gwanghwamun Square and expects to issue the order soon.
"It has been confirmed that the Seoul Metropolitan Government did not follow all the necessary procedures required by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other relevant regulations for construction work, including underground facilities," Kim said during a parliamentary Q&A session on political, diplomatic, unification and security affairs at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 9th. He was responding to a question from Rep. Park Joo-min of the Democratic Party of Korea.
"The construction was being pushed forward while I was barely aware that concerns had been raised about the Garden of Gratitude, so I ordered an inspection to check for any procedural defects," he added. "We will ensure that proper procedures are followed."
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is developing the Garden of Gratitude at Gwanghwamun Square and in front of Sejong Park, north of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The project honors soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Korean War. Plans include 23 sculptures above ground representing the 22 countries that participated in the war plus South Korea, and an underground media wall commemorating the dedication of war veterans.