Application for provisional injunction on order to remove statue of girl in Berlin, Germany

A German civic group that installed the statue has filed for provisional injunction against the administrative order to remove the statue of the girl of peace in Berlin, Germany.

The Korea Council said it filed a provisional injunction with the Berlin Administrative Court on the 15th to suspend the effect of the Berlin Mitte Ward Office order to remove the statue by the end of this month.

In its application, the Korea Council refuted the district office's claim that temporary artworks have been licensed for up to two years in accordance with its practice, saying that there have been exceptions to other works in the district.

In the case of the Berlin Girl's Statue, which was installed in September 2020, it was allowed to be installed at the discretion of the district office for two years after two years.

The group argued that this is inconsistent with the district office's claims based on the practice as it has the same effect as extending the permit, and that it is not clear why it should be removed immediately now after two years of acceptance.

He added that the district office does not take into account educational programs linked to the comfort women museum near the statue and local residents' demands for the preservation of the statue, violating the freedom of art and association under the constitution and damaging group activities.