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
# posted by Alain @ 5:16 PM 
