Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Another Namdaemun update
South Korean Gate Destroyed in Fire
Lee Jin-man/The Associated Press
The collapse of Sungnye Gate, a 600-year-old landmark designated a top national treasure, shocked the country.
By CHOE SANG-HUN
Published: February 12, 2008
SEOUL, South Korea — The destruction in a fire of the 600-year-old southern gate to what was once the walled city of Seoul, a landmark that survived foreign invasions and wars to be designated South Korea’s top national treasure, has shocked the nation.
A 69-year-old man suspected of setting the fire was arrested Monday night on Kanghwa Island, west of Seoul, The Associated Press reported the police as saying. The man was identified only by his family name, Chae.
The suspect “has confessed his crime,” said Kim Young-soo, chief at a police station handling the case in Seoul, The Associated Press said. The police have a letter from the suspect complaining about a land dispute with a development company, Mr. Kim was quoted as saying, adding that the suspect maintains he did not get enough compensation from the developer for his land in Kyonggi Province near Seoul.
Mr. Kim said the man had been charged in 2006 with setting fire to the Changgyeong Palace in Seoul, which caused $4,230 in damage.
“The Republic of Korea could not even defend its national treasure No. 1!” one front-page newspaper headline lamented, using South Korea’s formal name.
The fire destroyed Sungnyemun, better known to Koreans and foreign tourists as Namdaemun, or Great South Gate. “With this fire, our national pride was burned down as well,” said Lee Kyung-sook, top aide to President-elect Lee Myung-bak, who rushed to the scene of the blaze on Monday.
Namdaemun, made of wood and stone with a two-tiered, pagoda-shaped tiled roof, was completed in 1398 and served as the main southern entrance to Seoul, which was then a walled city. It was the oldest wooden structure in the country, an iconic reminder of old Korea in this modern Asian city, the capital of South Korea, and a major tourist attraction. The site is surrounded by a bustling commercial district. Lately, homeless people had sought shelter there.
The gate survived the Chinese and Japanese invasions that devastated the city. It was repaired several times, most recently after the Korean War of 1950 to 1953. When the South Korean government cataloged its national treasures in 1962, it gave the gate the No. 1 ranking.
Some historians opposed that designation because Japanese invasion forces had passed through it in the late 16th century to destroy Seoul.
The fire was first reported Sunday evening. By late Sunday night, firefighters said they believed that they had contained it. But the fire roared out of control again after midnight and finally destroyed the structure, despite the efforts of more than 360 firefighters.
Cheon Ho-seon, a spokesman for President Roh Moo-hyun, called the loss “an utterly unfortunate and unspeakably deplorable incident.”
“The gate has been our representative cultural asset that has been with us for 600 years,” Mr. Cheon said in a regular news briefing. “All Koreans were shocked and hurt when they saw the gate crumbling in flames.”
The Cultural Heritage Administration said it would take three years and $21 million to rebuild the structure.
Namdaemun succumbed to the very thing it was designed to fight off, according to Korean legend: fire. Korean kings chose the site in the belief that the gate would protect the capital from the fiery spirit of a mountain south of Seoul, historians say.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Update on Namdaemun fire
Here is an update regarding this weekend's fire that burned Seoul's National Treasure Sungnyemun or as often called, Namdaemun. From The Korea Herald - Alain
'Restoration of landmark gate to take up to 3 years'
Restoring the Sungnyemun, the 610-year-old national treasure which was destroyed by an overnight fire, is expected to take up to three years and cost about 20 billion won, an official at the Cultural Heritage Administration estimated.
The landmark gate, standing in the heart of Seoul, was reduced to ugly twisted beams and ashes. The gate, better known as Namdaemun, was designated as National Treasure No. 1 in 1962.
Police have yet to determine the cause, but suspect an arson attack because of witnesses' statements and two cigarette lighters and two ladders found inside the structure. No one was injured in the blaze.
"Though we have yet to discover the exact scale of the devastation, the restoration work will take two to three years," said Kim Sang-gu, a senior official at the CHA. "In 2006, we drew a real-size blueprint of the Sungnyemun as part of our efforts to establish antifire systems for major wooden cultural relics, so we can technically restore the archetype of the gate."
President-elect Lee Myung-bak visited the scene of the inferno yesterday, and expressed deep sadness over the collapse of the national treasure.
"(Namdaemun) was a symbolic cultural heritage of our nation; its devastation aches the hearts of the citizens," said the grim-faced Lee.
The fire broke out at around 8:50 p.m. on Sunday somewhere between the first and second levels of the landmark gate. At about 2 a.m. yesterday, the two-tiered wooden structure collapsed.
Police and firefighters are criticized for having failed to promptly respond; they apparently feared that the ancient gate could be damaged by anti-fire efforts.
According to a taxi driver, an eyewitness, the gate was set ablaze about two minutes after a man presumably in his 50s climbed up the stairs to the wooden part of it.
The government held an emergency meeting yesterday, presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
During the meeting, it was decided to set up a task force to coordinate the efforts of all parties concerned in ascertaining the exact cause of the fire and restoring the landmark. Administration members spoke of the need to check and strengthen safety measures to protect all the national treasures.
The presidential transition committee also called on investigating authorities and relevant agencies to get to the bottom of the case and take proper measures to deal with it.
"I feel sorry to our descendents for failing to protect the gate. The incoming government needs to check related policies and systems regarding the management of such cultural gems," said Lee Kyung-sook, the committee chairwoman.
Police yesterday launched a full-scale investigation into the fire. However, they have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, and are leaving open all possibilities.
"We questioned three witnesses, but some parts of their accounts clashed with one another. We also analyzed images from four closed-circuit televisions installed around the gate, but failed to secure the scenes of a suspect moving up the Sungnyemun," said Kim Young-su, head of the Namdaemun Police Station which is handling the case.
He added, "The exact spot and cause of the fire will be verified after the results of the forensic investigation come out."
Police are also looking into whether there was any negligence by those in charge of maintaining the gate. They questioned security guards and supervising personnel.
Experts say that the fire was likely caused by an arsonist, as the flames were first seen from the second floor of the wooden structure where there were no electrical illumination devices. Also, some firefighters found two cigarette lighters at the scene.
By law, anyone who sets fire to a nationally designated cultural relic could face a jail sentence exceeding three years.
Lawmakers criticized authorities for failing to timely and systematically react to the incident to salvage the landmark gate.
"(Authorities) were quite at a loss while I was watching the gate engulfed in flames for five hours. I was wondering whether any national system, in general, functions properly," said Sohn Hak-kyu, the new chief of the United New Democratic Party.
"Since this was presumably an arson fire and people seem to blame the fire department's misjudgment in putting out the fire, we need to thoroughly verify the cause and draw up measures to prevent the repeat of such incident," said Kang Jae-sup, chief of the Grand National Party.
A palpable sense of frustration prevailed among citizens in Seoul regarding the devastated landmark.
"Opening Namdaemun to the general public, the authorities had only six fire extinguishers, which shows how neglectful they were in managing our precious relics. At around 11 p.m. on Sunday, the overall shape of the gate remained pretty intact, but their late response to the fire and the failure to coordinate the efforts of all parties engaged in extinguishing the fire reduced the gate to rubble," said Kim Jae-min, an office worker in Seoul.
"Watching the scene of our best landmark on fire, I felt like one of my close friends was burning alive. Rather than passing the buck, we need to check antifire plans once again to prevent another precious treasure from disappearing again," said Shim Gyu-in, a college student in Seoul.
By Song Sang-ho
(sshluck@heraldm.com)
http://www.koreaherald.com/
'Restoration of landmark gate to take up to 3 years'
Restoring the Sungnyemun, the 610-year-old national treasure which was destroyed by an overnight fire, is expected to take up to three years and cost about 20 billion won, an official at the Cultural Heritage Administration estimated.
The landmark gate, standing in the heart of Seoul, was reduced to ugly twisted beams and ashes. The gate, better known as Namdaemun, was designated as National Treasure No. 1 in 1962.
Police have yet to determine the cause, but suspect an arson attack because of witnesses' statements and two cigarette lighters and two ladders found inside the structure. No one was injured in the blaze.
"Though we have yet to discover the exact scale of the devastation, the restoration work will take two to three years," said Kim Sang-gu, a senior official at the CHA. "In 2006, we drew a real-size blueprint of the Sungnyemun as part of our efforts to establish antifire systems for major wooden cultural relics, so we can technically restore the archetype of the gate."
President-elect Lee Myung-bak visited the scene of the inferno yesterday, and expressed deep sadness over the collapse of the national treasure.
"(Namdaemun) was a symbolic cultural heritage of our nation; its devastation aches the hearts of the citizens," said the grim-faced Lee.
The fire broke out at around 8:50 p.m. on Sunday somewhere between the first and second levels of the landmark gate. At about 2 a.m. yesterday, the two-tiered wooden structure collapsed.
Police and firefighters are criticized for having failed to promptly respond; they apparently feared that the ancient gate could be damaged by anti-fire efforts.
According to a taxi driver, an eyewitness, the gate was set ablaze about two minutes after a man presumably in his 50s climbed up the stairs to the wooden part of it.
The government held an emergency meeting yesterday, presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
During the meeting, it was decided to set up a task force to coordinate the efforts of all parties concerned in ascertaining the exact cause of the fire and restoring the landmark. Administration members spoke of the need to check and strengthen safety measures to protect all the national treasures.
The presidential transition committee also called on investigating authorities and relevant agencies to get to the bottom of the case and take proper measures to deal with it.
"I feel sorry to our descendents for failing to protect the gate. The incoming government needs to check related policies and systems regarding the management of such cultural gems," said Lee Kyung-sook, the committee chairwoman.
Police yesterday launched a full-scale investigation into the fire. However, they have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, and are leaving open all possibilities.
"We questioned three witnesses, but some parts of their accounts clashed with one another. We also analyzed images from four closed-circuit televisions installed around the gate, but failed to secure the scenes of a suspect moving up the Sungnyemun," said Kim Young-su, head of the Namdaemun Police Station which is handling the case.
He added, "The exact spot and cause of the fire will be verified after the results of the forensic investigation come out."
Police are also looking into whether there was any negligence by those in charge of maintaining the gate. They questioned security guards and supervising personnel.
Experts say that the fire was likely caused by an arsonist, as the flames were first seen from the second floor of the wooden structure where there were no electrical illumination devices. Also, some firefighters found two cigarette lighters at the scene.
By law, anyone who sets fire to a nationally designated cultural relic could face a jail sentence exceeding three years.
Lawmakers criticized authorities for failing to timely and systematically react to the incident to salvage the landmark gate.
"(Authorities) were quite at a loss while I was watching the gate engulfed in flames for five hours. I was wondering whether any national system, in general, functions properly," said Sohn Hak-kyu, the new chief of the United New Democratic Party.
"Since this was presumably an arson fire and people seem to blame the fire department's misjudgment in putting out the fire, we need to thoroughly verify the cause and draw up measures to prevent the repeat of such incident," said Kang Jae-sup, chief of the Grand National Party.
A palpable sense of frustration prevailed among citizens in Seoul regarding the devastated landmark.
"Opening Namdaemun to the general public, the authorities had only six fire extinguishers, which shows how neglectful they were in managing our precious relics. At around 11 p.m. on Sunday, the overall shape of the gate remained pretty intact, but their late response to the fire and the failure to coordinate the efforts of all parties engaged in extinguishing the fire reduced the gate to rubble," said Kim Jae-min, an office worker in Seoul.
"Watching the scene of our best landmark on fire, I felt like one of my close friends was burning alive. Rather than passing the buck, we need to check antifire plans once again to prevent another precious treasure from disappearing again," said Shim Gyu-in, a college student in Seoul.
By Song Sang-ho
(sshluck@heraldm.com)
http://www.koreaherald.com/
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Namdaemun in Seoul burns
We were watching the Korean news on TV about a half hour ago and saw the reports and footage of Namdaemun burning. This was really sad. This centuries-old gate was the No. 1 national treasure of Korea, and something that I always marveled at each time I went by. It was so impressive to see, and it really saddened me to see it burn.
As someone who practices the Korean art Hapkido, as well as someone who has studied a lot about Korea, married a Korean woman, and still has family, friends, and instructors in Korea, it is quite upsetting to see something of such historic importance, not to mention beauty be destroyed, and to know that it may have been arson makes it that much worse. With sadness I share this news.
- Alain
Here are the reports from Korean newspapers.
From the Korea Herald:
Centuries-old gate collapses in fire
A fire engulfed a six-century-old gate in the heart of Seoul late Sunday, with police suspecting it was caused by arson, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Namdaemun collapsed after more than five hours of efforts to put out the fire failed. The blaze appeared to be under control at one point, but it flared up again a few minutes later, spreading quickly as firefighters tried to salvage whatever could be saved.
A taxi driver who reported the fire told police he saw a man, appearing to be in his 50s, going up the stairs to the gate carrying a shopping bag. He then saw a big spark above Namdaemun and saw the man go down the stairs and walk away. Police have yet to find the suspect.
Seoul`s Namdaemun Gate collapses after an overnight fire broke out last night. [The Korea Herald]The landmark, officially called Sungnyemun, or "gate of exalted ceremonies," was the southern gate of the walls that surrounded Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). It currently serves as a gateway to Namdaemun market, a traditional market that has been operating for centuries.
Namdaemun, the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, was designated the country's national treasure No. 1 in 1962.
Construction of the gate began in 1395 and was finished in 1398 during the rein of King Taejo, who founded the Joseon Dynasty. The structure had several renovations, most recently in 1962.
http://www.koreaherald.com/
(Vist the Korea Herald site to see a picture of the burned gate.)
From The Korea Times:
Fire Demolishes National Treasure No. 1
A fire swallowed the nation's No. 1 treasure Sungnyemun - more commonly known as Namdaemun, meaning South Gate in Korean - in the heart of Seoul late Sunday.
The historic structure from the Joseon Kingdom was totally demolished four hours after it caught fire at 8:30 p.m. Firefighters stopped operation at 10: 30 p.m. as the blaze appeared to be extinguished but it flared up again some minutes later, spreading quickly beyond control.
About 30 fire trucks along with 90 firefighters rushed to the scene to bring the blaze under control. There were no reports of any casualties and the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined, they said.
Police suspect someone deliberately started the fire as a taxi driver, identified only by his surname Lee, said he saw a man in his 50s go up the stairs of the gate with a shopping bag, while he was waiting to pick up a customer in the nearby area.
Lee said he then saw a spark like a firework and reported it to police, adding the man came down the stairs afterwards. The taxi driver said he drove around looking for the man but could not find him.About 40 police officers were dispatched to the scene and questioned eyewitnesses to identify the cause of the blaze. Also, some roads were blocked to traffic as firefighters put out the fire.
Namdaemun, the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, was originally built in 1398 and then renovated in 1962, following its destruction during the Korean War. It was given the status of National Treasure No. 1.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18673.html
Arson Suspected in Namdaemun Fire
By Lee Hyo-sik Staff ReporterA fire broke out at Sungnyemun _ more commonly known as Namdaemun, meaning South Gate in Korean _ a historic structure from the Joseon Kingdom located in the center of Seoul, Sunday night, causing a major problem for firefighters.
The fire occurred around 8:50 p.m., police said. About 30 fire trucks along with 90 firefighters rushed to the scene to bring the blaze under control. There were no reports of any casualties and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, they said.
According to firefighters, Namdaemun did not seem to sustain major damage other than minor burning to the area underneath the roof.
Police suspect someone deliberately started the fire as a taxi driver, identified only by his surname Lee, said he saw a man in his 50s go up the stairs of the gate with a shopping bag, while he was waiting to pick up a customer in the nearby area.
Lee said he then saw a spark like a firework and reported it to police, adding the man came down the stairs afterwards. The taxi driver said he drove around looking for the man but could not find him.
About 40 police officers were dispatched to the scene and questioned eyewitnesses to identify the cause of the blaze. Also, some roads were blocked to traffic as firefighters put out the fire.
Namdaemun, the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, was originally built in 1398 and then renovated in 1962, following its destruction during the Korean War. It was given the status of National Treasure No. 1.
leehs@koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18668.html
As someone who practices the Korean art Hapkido, as well as someone who has studied a lot about Korea, married a Korean woman, and still has family, friends, and instructors in Korea, it is quite upsetting to see something of such historic importance, not to mention beauty be destroyed, and to know that it may have been arson makes it that much worse. With sadness I share this news.
- Alain
Here are the reports from Korean newspapers.
From the Korea Herald:
Centuries-old gate collapses in fire
A fire engulfed a six-century-old gate in the heart of Seoul late Sunday, with police suspecting it was caused by arson, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Namdaemun collapsed after more than five hours of efforts to put out the fire failed. The blaze appeared to be under control at one point, but it flared up again a few minutes later, spreading quickly as firefighters tried to salvage whatever could be saved.
A taxi driver who reported the fire told police he saw a man, appearing to be in his 50s, going up the stairs to the gate carrying a shopping bag. He then saw a big spark above Namdaemun and saw the man go down the stairs and walk away. Police have yet to find the suspect.
Seoul`s Namdaemun Gate collapses after an overnight fire broke out last night. [The Korea Herald]The landmark, officially called Sungnyemun, or "gate of exalted ceremonies," was the southern gate of the walls that surrounded Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). It currently serves as a gateway to Namdaemun market, a traditional market that has been operating for centuries.
Namdaemun, the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, was designated the country's national treasure No. 1 in 1962.
Construction of the gate began in 1395 and was finished in 1398 during the rein of King Taejo, who founded the Joseon Dynasty. The structure had several renovations, most recently in 1962.
http://www.koreaherald.com/
(Vist the Korea Herald site to see a picture of the burned gate.)
From The Korea Times:
Fire Demolishes National Treasure No. 1
A fire swallowed the nation's No. 1 treasure Sungnyemun - more commonly known as Namdaemun, meaning South Gate in Korean - in the heart of Seoul late Sunday.
The historic structure from the Joseon Kingdom was totally demolished four hours after it caught fire at 8:30 p.m. Firefighters stopped operation at 10: 30 p.m. as the blaze appeared to be extinguished but it flared up again some minutes later, spreading quickly beyond control.
About 30 fire trucks along with 90 firefighters rushed to the scene to bring the blaze under control. There were no reports of any casualties and the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined, they said.
Police suspect someone deliberately started the fire as a taxi driver, identified only by his surname Lee, said he saw a man in his 50s go up the stairs of the gate with a shopping bag, while he was waiting to pick up a customer in the nearby area.
Lee said he then saw a spark like a firework and reported it to police, adding the man came down the stairs afterwards. The taxi driver said he drove around looking for the man but could not find him.About 40 police officers were dispatched to the scene and questioned eyewitnesses to identify the cause of the blaze. Also, some roads were blocked to traffic as firefighters put out the fire.
Namdaemun, the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, was originally built in 1398 and then renovated in 1962, following its destruction during the Korean War. It was given the status of National Treasure No. 1.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18673.html
Arson Suspected in Namdaemun Fire
By Lee Hyo-sik Staff ReporterA fire broke out at Sungnyemun _ more commonly known as Namdaemun, meaning South Gate in Korean _ a historic structure from the Joseon Kingdom located in the center of Seoul, Sunday night, causing a major problem for firefighters.
The fire occurred around 8:50 p.m., police said. About 30 fire trucks along with 90 firefighters rushed to the scene to bring the blaze under control. There were no reports of any casualties and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, they said.
According to firefighters, Namdaemun did not seem to sustain major damage other than minor burning to the area underneath the roof.
Police suspect someone deliberately started the fire as a taxi driver, identified only by his surname Lee, said he saw a man in his 50s go up the stairs of the gate with a shopping bag, while he was waiting to pick up a customer in the nearby area.
Lee said he then saw a spark like a firework and reported it to police, adding the man came down the stairs afterwards. The taxi driver said he drove around looking for the man but could not find him.
About 40 police officers were dispatched to the scene and questioned eyewitnesses to identify the cause of the blaze. Also, some roads were blocked to traffic as firefighters put out the fire.
Namdaemun, the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, was originally built in 1398 and then renovated in 1962, following its destruction during the Korean War. It was given the status of National Treasure No. 1.
leehs@koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18668.html
Monday, February 04, 2008
Yet Another Lock On 3 review
5 Stars - Another outstanding edition to the Lock On series, February 4, 2008
By L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA)
As with the rest of the "Lock On" series, this DVD is elegantly done with quality production, clear sound, good contrast between the people and background settings, and outstanding camera angles so that viewers can easily tell what is going on.
Burrese's instructions are clear, straightforward, and precise, making it easy to understand all the important points. He is really an outstanding communicator and clearly a very proficient instructor. If you have been exposed to this type of thing before, the pacing is just right; minimal explanation with maximum demonstration. It is "chaptered" well too, so if any section goes by too quickly you can always skip back and replay it again.
The material is very well organized too, beginning with an explanation of the structure of the shoulder and then quickly moving into a variety of techniques. It is a great overview with enough depth that you can practice what you have learned with a partner afterward. Contents include raising shoulder locks, pulling shoulder locks, "chicken wing" locks and variations thereof, bent arm shoulder locks, and "figure-four" locks.
These applications can be used offensively or defensively in a variety of situations in the ring and/or on the street. Previously covered principles, footwork, and blocks from earlier DVDs are once again incorporated in this one so there is a single thread from volume to volume with a logical build of the materials. These techniques are common to most fighting styles and will benefit nearly anyone from traditional practitioners to modern mixed martial artists.
Burrese moves well, explains clearly, demonstrates effectively, and ensures that viewers truly understand the materials. While no DVD can be a substitute for hands-on instruction, this one is so good that it's the next best thing to being there, solid, practical instruction that can be invaluable for practitioners of most any martial style. Very well done!
Lawrence Kane Author of Martial Arts Instruction and Surviving Armed Assaults; co-author of The Way of Kata and The Way to Black Belt
By L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA)
As with the rest of the "Lock On" series, this DVD is elegantly done with quality production, clear sound, good contrast between the people and background settings, and outstanding camera angles so that viewers can easily tell what is going on.
Burrese's instructions are clear, straightforward, and precise, making it easy to understand all the important points. He is really an outstanding communicator and clearly a very proficient instructor. If you have been exposed to this type of thing before, the pacing is just right; minimal explanation with maximum demonstration. It is "chaptered" well too, so if any section goes by too quickly you can always skip back and replay it again.
The material is very well organized too, beginning with an explanation of the structure of the shoulder and then quickly moving into a variety of techniques. It is a great overview with enough depth that you can practice what you have learned with a partner afterward. Contents include raising shoulder locks, pulling shoulder locks, "chicken wing" locks and variations thereof, bent arm shoulder locks, and "figure-four" locks.
These applications can be used offensively or defensively in a variety of situations in the ring and/or on the street. Previously covered principles, footwork, and blocks from earlier DVDs are once again incorporated in this one so there is a single thread from volume to volume with a logical build of the materials. These techniques are common to most fighting styles and will benefit nearly anyone from traditional practitioners to modern mixed martial artists.
Burrese moves well, explains clearly, demonstrates effectively, and ensures that viewers truly understand the materials. While no DVD can be a substitute for hands-on instruction, this one is so good that it's the next best thing to being there, solid, practical instruction that can be invaluable for practitioners of most any martial style. Very well done!
Lawrence Kane Author of Martial Arts Instruction and Surviving Armed Assaults; co-author of The Way of Kata and The Way to Black Belt
