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Giant rubber duck to arrive in Seoul

October 10, 2014
The art installation will be entering Eastern Seoul (Korea Times)

The art installation will be entering Eastern Seoul (Korea Times)

A gigantic rubber duck is scheduled to make its way to eastern Seoul next week.

The 300 kilogram, 54-foot tall duck designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman will float in Seokchon Lake as part of a promotion for the controversial Lotte World Tower, which is located nearby.

The “Rubber Duck Project” has traveled to cities including Amsterdam, Osaka, Sydney, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong and Pittsburgh since 2007 in a bid to “heal wounds” and “relieve tension” wherever it goes.

Lotte officials will keep their fingers crossed in hopes that the duck can calm jangled nerves as well.

The construction of the complex has sparked concern after sinkholes appeared near the site. Seoul City has said that poor construction of subway line No. 9 was behind the holes. The city has allowed the lower floors of the building to open, but will monitor safety conditions.

The duck project has drawn millions of visitors around the world.

“The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn’t discriminate people and doesn’t have a political connotation,” states Hofman on his webpage.