Under local construction law, construction should start within one year after the building permit is granted. When it is inevitable, a postponement of the building permit can be requested. Without requests for postponement, the permit may be canceled after two years. In 2015, the Japanese Embassy dismantled its antiquated building on Yulgok Street in Jongno Ward and relocated to a nearby building. At that time, the Japanese government said it will build a new embassy building on the former site with six floors above ground and three underground floors by 2020.

Officials at the Jongno Ward Office said they had asked the Japanese Embassy to start the new building’s construction several times, but the Japanese mission failed to respond each time. “Construction can start anytime if the building permit is obtained again, but there was no contact from the Japanese side after the cancellation,” said the Jongno Ward official.

Watchers speculate that the Statue of Peace installed in front of the former embassy building to symbolize Korean victims of sexual slavery during Japan’s colonial rule and a weekly protest rally by the slavery victims and their supporters there may have something to do with the construction delays. The 1,382nd weekly protest rally by the victims, who are euphemistically called “comfort women,” is to be held in front of the former site of the Japanese Embassy building at noon Wednesday. The Statue of Peace was installed in December 2011 in commemoration of its 1,000th gathering.

(Yonhap)