Korea’s national treasure destroyed
Sungnyemun (Namdaemun or South Gate) was burnt down in a blaze yesterday! The South Gate also known as Korea’s number 1 national treasure resides in Seoul (South Korea’s Capital) and was burnt down in matter of hours last night by an arsonist.
The 600 year old gate is the biggest remaining castle gate in Korea which survived several wars including the Japanese invasion in 1592 and the Manchurian invasion in 1636.
Firefighters fought the blaze with ladders and fire hoses at 8:55 p.m. and by 10: 30 p.m. thought the fire was under control and focused on putting out smaller flames. But the blaze rekindled at 10:40 p.m. and burnt the roof out. It collapsed at 12:40 a.m. on Monday. At 12:00 a.m., firefighters belatedly tried to take the roof apart and douse the gate with water inside, but the effort failed and firefighters were reduced to watching the gate collapse while they sprinkled water around it at ground level. - Chosun ilbo
It will take several years to restore South Korea’s national trademark according to news naver via Marmot’s Hole. The gate was repaired in 1447 and its latest restoration/repair work was done in 1961-1963 after damages sustained in the Korean war.
I really wonder who would do such a thing and for what reason?
Source:
Chosun ilbo
Marmot’s Hole
Picture courtesy of Yonhap