TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A 4.5-meter-tall woodman puppet sculpture named “Lamy” will be removed from the Tainan Shan-Shang Garden and Old Waterworks Museum over safety concerns.

The sculpture has been popular since it was installed near a children’s sand pit five years ago. However, exposure to wind, sun, and rain has caused damage to the wooden structure, leading the museum to schedule its upcoming demolition, per CNA.

Tainan City Government Cultural Affairs Director Hsieh Shih-yuan (謝仕淵) said the waterworks museum has a vast outdoor space suitable for parent-child recreation, with the giant woodman puppet installed overlooking a sandpit.

To cooperate with local ecology, a series of wooden birdhouses was added to the head of the woodman to provide a bird habitat. However, few birds were enticed by the sculpture and the birdhouses, but a crested goshawk began to nest in a nearby tree.

The popularity of the Korean series "Squid Game" sparked a wave of visitors to the structure a few years ago. They imitated a famous scene from the drama and posed for photos.

Unfortunately, the location in a hot and rainy mountainous area caused the wood to rot despite regular painting and staining. Furthermore, people would sit on the woodman’s legs and crawl on the sculpture, accelerating the damage.

Originally, the waterworks hoped the sculpture could survive through the year, allowing it to secure funding for reinstallation. However, an evaluation found the sculpture dangerous to visitors, and a demolition order was issued.

Waterworks museum staff hope the woodman can remain in the hearts of visitors through photos and social media. Through photo sharing, the Tainan City Cultural Affairs Bureau hopes to keep its memory alive.