Incheon sculpture sparks controversy for "looking offensive"
Incheon’s Songdo International City recently installed a four‑metre‑tall concrete hand sculpture at Long Beach Park. Shaped like the American Sign Language “I love you” sign, the piece was meant to serve as a photo spot and a nod to inclusive communication.
The work, commissioned by the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, cost about 200 million won and combines glass fibre‑reinforced concrete. Its extended thumb, index and pinky fingers with the middle and ring fingers folded were intended to convey affection.
Soon after unveiling, some local residents argued that from certain angles the gesture resembles a middle‑finger insult or the hand sign associated with the far‑right online community Ilbe. The perceived similarity sparked online complaints and calls for its removal.
In response, officials covered the sculpture with a tarp and announced plans to add an explanatory plaque to clarify its purpose.
The Yeonsu‑gu branch of the Incheon Association of the Deaf highlighted the sculpture’s potential to raise awareness of sign language and disability inclusion, urging that education, not erasure, be the remedy.
The episode underscores how public art can become a flashpoint when visual symbols intersect with cultural sensitivities, prompting a dialogue about intent, interpretation, and community engagement.