At a press conference a day after a rally calling for the removal of the monument turned violent, Ahn said the Sept. 15, 1950 Incheon Landing, a turning point in the Korean War, was “a historical fact that protected international peace and liberal democracy in South Korea.” He said pulling down or moving a memorial to the U.S. general who led the offensive would not be in the interests of the city or the nation.

The mayor, who visited North Korea in May and June to discuss a joint bid to host the Asian Games with Pyongyang, said, "These days, not even North Korea talks about the withdrawal of the U.S. Forces Korea, and I'm sure the North would never demand that the city of Incheon remove the statue." He urged "outsiders" to stop making trouble over the statue in his city.

"The people are having a tough time making ends meet due to the sluggish economy, and one has to proceed carefully in the subtle inter-Korean relationship, so it's unfortunate that both sides [in the MacArthur debate] are confronting one another with heated arguments and we're wasting police personnel."

Meanwhile, the ROK Marine Corps Veterans Association plans to rally in Freedom Park on Thursday to demonstrate in favor of the MacArthur statue on the 55th anniversary of the Incheon Landing. About 10,000 people are expected. Groups that want the statue pulled down have not scheduled a counter-demonstration for that day, but police are watching them closely and preparing for any potential clashes.

(englishnews@chosun.com )