Dutch influencer Bart van Genugten, known for his YouTube channel iGoBart, decided to end his exhibition early on Sunday after discovering that visitors had defaced his giant map of Seoul. The map, made of aluminum and measuring two meters by two meters, was the centerpiece of his exhibition at Domansa in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul.

Surveillance footage shows two individuals, estimated to be in their 20s, entering the exhibition space around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. The front door was unlocked, and the lights were on. Using Bart’s paintings displayed next to the map, they wrote messages in Korean. The graffiti included positive messages like “I love you oppa (older brother)” and “Oh Sung-min album fighting! Our country’s best producer.”

The map originally cost 2 million won to produce, with additional costs for paint and transport. Factoring in labor and artistic value, its total worth is difficult to estimate. Upon discovering the damage on Sunday morning, Bart decided to end the exhibition early. “I can’t leave the map unattended anymore,” he said in an online post. “This map represents months of hard work, passion, and personal investment, and to see it damaged like this is devastating. To whoever is responsible, if you’re reading this, please come forward.”

Bart remained at the exhibition on the final day, maintaining an upbeat mood despite visits from friends, supporters, and police investigators. The exhibition documented his journey to visit Seoul’s 467 neighborhoods for his project “Welcome to My Dong.”
 

Sayart / ReaA JUNG queen7203@gmail.com