Plans to move a decades-old display of artifacts from South Korea and Japan in front of the mayor’s office for the Olympic flag has some in LA’s Korean and Japanese community upset.
The Los Angeles Times reports the displays of a model ship from South Korea and a shrine from Japan will be refurbished and moved to the Los Angeles Convention Center. In its place will be the Olympic flag Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received in the ceremonial handover during the closing ceremonies at the Paris Olympics.
LA will be the site of the 2028 games and Bass flew back from Paris with the flag she received in hand.
“These are not just simple displays. These are diplomatic artifacts,” Scott Suh, former president of the Wilshire Center-Koreatown Neighborhood Council, said at a recent news conference, Daily Breeze reported.
The model is a battleship from Busan, South Korea and the shrine is a replica from Nagoya, Japan. Both were diplomatic gifts from two of LA’s sister cities.
“It’s just a shame,” said David Ikegami, president of the Little Tokyo Business Assn. “I don’t know if anyone realizes the significance of the relationship.”
The City Council last month approved $500,000 to move the pieces.
The mayor’s office responded to the controversy with a statement from Jieun Kim, Bass’ deputy director of Korean language communications.
“The gifts are undergoing full restoration and conservation, some of which for the first time in decades,” Kim said in a statement. “We look forward to hosting a celebration of the new displays in coordination with community members and Consuls General at the Los Angeles Convention Center once the restoration is complete.”
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