South Korean police are investigating two people in their 60s for cutting roses and branches at a popular photo landmark in Suwon [1].
The incident has caused significant damage to a site known as the "Blue Gate Roses," a destination frequented by photographers and tourists. Because the damage is extensive, the owner believes the plants may never return to their original state.
According to investigators, a man and a woman in their 60s were identified as the suspects [1]. The incident occurred around midnight on June 24 [1]. The pair allegedly cut several rose blossoms and approximately 10 branches [1] from the site located in Haenggung-dong, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Suwon Paldal Police Station [1].
The owner of the roses expressed distress over the loss on social media. "It seems difficult to restore it to its previous state because too many roses were cut," the owner said [1].
Authorities have moved quickly to identify the individuals involved through available evidence. The Suwon Paldal Police Station confirmed that the suspects have been contacted. "We have notified them to appear [for questioning] sometime next week," the police station said [1].
While the suspects have been identified, the specific motive for the unauthorized cutting has not been disclosed. Police continue to examine the scene to determine the full extent of the property damage and whether other laws were violated during the midnight excursion [1].
“It seems difficult to restore it to its previous state because too many roses were cut”
This incident highlights the vulnerability of 'Instagrammable' urban landmarks, where private greenery becomes a public attraction. The police response indicates a low tolerance for the destruction of community-valued aesthetic spaces, treating the unauthorized harvesting of plants as a criminal matter rather than a simple civil dispute.
