00:00 National Mall Becomes a Construction Site Ahead of 250th Anniversary
01:00 A Plaza Stained by Mystery and Truth Disputes
02:23 Newly Painted Reflecting Pool: "Renovation" vs. "Foolishness"
1. National Mall Becomes a Construction Site Ahead of 250th Anniversary
This is the National Mall in Washington D.C., the heart of global politics and a symbol of American democracy. The area around the Lincoln Memorial, which would typically be bustling with tourists from around the world, is now filled with massive barriers and the loud noise of construction. This is not a simple repair of aging facilities. From the plaza in front of the memorial to the Reflecting Pool stretching toward the Washington Monument, the heart of the capital is undergoing a major facelift. Behind this massive construction project lies a historic milestone: the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, which falls on July 4. The U.S. administration has launched a "Capital Beautification and Modernization Project" to change the face of the capital. The most anticipated core project is the opening of an underground museum, transforming the space that has supported the Lincoln statue for the past 100 years into a state-of-the-art exhibition space spanning approximately 15,000 square feet.
2. A Plaza Stained by Mystery and Truth Disputes
However, the real battlefield of public opinion is the plaza above ground. The site is stained with bizarre political mysteries and disputes over the truth.
[Donald Trump / President of the United States: They carved very large letters into the grass. You probably know, right? And they wrote '86-47'.]
When the mysterious number '86-47', implying the ouster of the 47th President Trump, was recently carved into the lawn, the White House rushed to dig up the grass, claiming it was a conspiracy by opponents. Yellow scars from the incident still remain on the site. Meanwhile, the bottom of the Reflecting Pool, which was repainted with blue waterproof paint at a cost of over 20 billion won, has recently suffered numerous knife marks and scratches.
[Donald Trump / President of the United States: They are truly terrible. They are criminals who destroy public property. They said they caught six people, but there might be more. They made scratches 350 feet long along the side of the Reflecting Pool.]
Experts point out, "This is not sabotage, but shoddy construction caused by an unreasonable rush." In particular, they point out that the dark blue paint used on the bottom may have raised the water temperature, potentially causing the serious algae bloom that occurred shortly after it opened.
3. Newly Painted Reflecting Pool: "Renovation" vs. "Foolishness"
The Trump administration invested over 14 million dollars to paint the murky pool floor a deep blue, dubbed "American Flag Blue." There are even plans to build a massive triumphal arch on the access road to Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River. While supporters cheer it as bold leadership,
[Gary Worp / Pennsylvania: It was in need of maintenance, and it was finally renovated.]
Opponents and cultural heritage preservation groups are furious. This is because this is a historic space imbued with the conscience of America, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shouted "I have a dream" in 1963. Critics point out that President Trump has made it look frivolous, like a resort or theme park reflecting his own tastes.
[Rio / Washington: They made a complete mess of it. It couldn't be any worse. It's a waste of money and time. Just like the line from the movie Forrest Gump: 'Stupid is as stupid does.']
The value of preservation, which seeks to maintain the taste of grand and deep history, versus the logic of development, which seeks to showcase flashy achievements. The noise in Washington over the unsubstantiated knife marks and mysterious symbols can be seen as the sound of deep division over how the United States, approaching its 250th anniversary, will define its own identity. Whether the newly painted Reflecting Pool will become a mirror reflecting American pride or remain a stain of unilateral dominance, the eyes of citizens who will stand before the completed plaza are turning toward Washington.
Reported by Lee Han-seok | Produced by Shin Hee-sook | Video by Oh Jung-sik | Video Editing by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
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