Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia Cathedral, a renowned Spanish landmark, has been defaced with Korean-language graffiti, according to online communities Tuesday.
A photo showing the Korean slang word “ppwek” carved into the stone of renowned architect Antoni Gaudi’s iconic unfinished masterpiece has spread online, drawing criticism at home and abroad.
“The graffiti itself is bad enough, but what’s even worse is that someone used a Korean slang word, assuming foreigners wouldn’t understand. It’s a national disgrace,” one user wrote on X.
“Ppwek” is a slang term used online to express irritation or annoyance.
Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University — which promotes Korean interests abroad — strongly condemned the act of leaving graffiti on world heritage sites, saying, “At a time when Korea’s national image has risen thanks to the global popularity of K-content, such behavior is shameful and undermines the country’s brand value.”
This is not the first time Korean graffiti has been discovered at overseas tourist sites.
Korean graffiti was also found on a bamboo stalk at Kyoto’s Arashiyama bamboo grove last week, alongside inscriptions in Chinese, English and other languages. The markings appeared to have been carved with sharp objects such as blades or metal keys.
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