I found about the fire that destroyed Seoul’s Namdaemun Gate also known as the Sungnyemun Gate, from reading Robert’s updates over the Marmot’s Hole while eating lunch today. Needless to say I was shocked and to echo Robert this is a national tragedy for Korea that is equal to when Naksansa temple burned to the ground three years ago. The pictures of the fire are truly dramatic and only adds to the feeling of tragedy:
Here is a current picture of the aftermath of the fire from Marmot’s site:
The fire is even making international headlines as this Associated Press wire story is currently on the front page Yahoo:
An overnight fire destroyed a 610-year-old landmark that was considered the top national treasure, officials said Monday. Police said the cause of the blaze was unclear but one official said arson was suspected.
The fire broke out Sunday night and burned down the wooden structure at the top of the Namdaemun gate that once formed part of a wall that encircled the capital.
Some 360 firefighters fought to bring the blaze under control, according to Lee Sang-joon, an official with the National Emergency Management Agency. No one was injured, he said.
Lee said that arson was suspected in the blaze. However, Kim Young-soo, the head of a police station in central Seoul handling the case, told a televised news conference said it was too early to make that conclusion.
President-elect Lee Myung-bak visited the scene and deplored the destruction of Namdaemun, the namesake of Seoul’s central district and a major tourist attraction.
“People’s hearts will ache,” he told officials as he received a briefing.
The South Korean government opened the landmark gate, officially named Sungnyemun, to public in 2006 for first time in nearly a century.
The gate had been off-limits to the public since Japanese colonial authorities built an electric tramway nearby in 1907. Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula in 1910-45.
The gate was renovated in the 1960s and again in 2005.
The Cultural Heritage Administration said it would take at least three years to fully restore the gate and it would cost some $21 million. [Kwang Tae-kim - Associated Press]
Hopefully they quickly capture the arsonist and he will do some jail time for this crime that is really a crime against everyone in Korea due to this being Korea’s Historical Treasure Number One and probably the most recognizable landmark in Seoul. It would be like someone burning down the Statue of Liberty in New York.
The Marmot has a posting up now with a number of great pictures in tribute to this lost historical treasure. Here is a picture of the gate I took the last time I was in Seoul:
It is sad to think we are all going to have to wait three years to see Namdaemun reconstructed to its past glory. If the reconstruction of Naksansa is any indication than the Korean authorities should do a good job rebuilding the gate. Let’s also hope the Korean authorities learn a lesson from this to better protect the precious few historical treasures remaining in the country so sad sights like we saw today do not have to be repeated.
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6:33 pm on February 11th, 2008 1
In the name of preemptive retaliation, I would like to hereby formally accuse Japan.
8:51 pm on February 11th, 2008 2
LOL Mark. You are the king of one liners.
I for one don’t believe for a minute it is 610 years old. I have went to many dirt floor temples, dirt floor palaces or other so called “historic” dirt floor places in Korea. Koreans were always telling me that its 5000 years old or made by Dangoon herself or other nonsense. However after a little looking I would point to a small plaque “built in 1972″. The Korean was caught in a lie again.
There are already totally illogical and frankly insanely stupid theories by the Korean intelligencia on what started the fire. But then educated Koreans also believe in “fan death”. LOL
“Oriental topography experts said the fire at Seoul’s 600-year-old structure may have something to do with the mysterious “fire-torching” energy from a mountain in southern Seoul.”
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/117_18705.html
Surely nothing bad can happen in Koera without laying the blame at the feet of Japan or the USA.
2:20 am on February 12th, 2008 3
Mark, the Japanese, as usual,are way ahead of you on this one. This was a big story on NHK tonight and the announcers took great pains to point out that homeless people set up shop in the gate. Even pointing out that a lighter was found on the grounds.
“They are going to nail us no matter what we do.”-Animal House.
3:21 am on February 12th, 2008 4
Goodfood, that K-Times article is just a nostalgic look back into the cultural aspect of the now burned down gate. Everyone knows it was an arsonist, don’t try to make it as if Koreans are stupid. Now I know you’re not too fond of Koreans to say it mildly, but can’t we even even have just one day of mourning without getting bashed? I ask seriously. And Skippy-san, the only ones who are blaming Japan for this are the expats regurgitating stereotypes of Koreans, inviting more bashing against Koreans. Korea Times comment section of the article Goodfood linked to, a perfect example.
10:10 am on February 12th, 2008 5
To all,
Namdaemun even survived the Korean War (50-53) in better shape than it is in now. This is going to take some MAJOR reconstruction. Sufficed to say that almost none of the original timbers will be able to be salvaged. I’ve found a picture taken during the Korean War and will try to paste it, or the URL below.
http://english.chosun.com/media/photo/news/200606/200606220018_04.jpg
Tim in Angeles sendzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
12:18 pm on February 12th, 2008 6
Tom-here is the headline.
“Mysterious Energy Linked to Blaze ”
“Oriental topography experts said the fire at Seoul’s 600-year-old structure may have something to do with the mysterious “fire-torching” energy from a mountain in southern Seoul.”
This is not a “look back” story. This Koreas top English language newspaper discussing a theory that “energy from a mountain” caused the fire. Its a retarded theory. Much like the widely held belief that eating dogs increases stamina, or sleeping with the fan on may kill you.
It is funny that Korea scholars, and newspaper editors believe in such insanely stupid theories. Maybe they should call Ghostbusters. LOL.
12:45 pm on February 12th, 2008 7
Dear Angry Expat, GoodFood, why are you taking one article out of many and generalizing based on that? It’s obvious the article is just a write up on Feng Shui as a side story, sort of like a cultural intake on the burned down gate. The article is paying a tribute to Korea’s cultural treasure #1.
From the same paper that you link to, why you ignore the majority of articles like this?
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/117_18720.html
and this
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/117_18706.html
and this
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/116_18699.html
Notice what all those articles say as to what happened.
You don’t have to be so angry, this arson didn’t happen to you, you were not effected. You should be happy instead that this happened to Korea. But maybe your intention is to point out how stupid Koreans are, and this is your way of gloating.
12:52 pm on February 12th, 2008 8
Now Koreans are saying its their “9-11″.
“The Korean equivalent of the 9/11 attacks happened while the whole country was watching.”
“But they psychologically felt the equivalent of feelings the American had in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.”
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200802/200802120011.html
I suppose its the same, if instead of flying two fully fueled 747 top speed into the center of two of the largest buildings in the world, a drunk Korean adusshi went to the first floor toilet and lit some TP on fire. And through the incredible incompetence of the fire fighters the whoel world trade center burnt down.
Oh and then there is the issue of nobody dying in “North Big Gate” where as thousands of people were murdered in the 9-11 terrorist attacks. But as there was no Koreans killed, I can see how the two event can be equated in the Korean mind.
Wow, its so arrogant of the chosun ilbo to equate these two events.
1:52 pm on February 12th, 2008 9
No, the Koreans are not saying it’s their 9-11.
You obviously missed these in your same linked article:
——
Oh Ji-hye (25), an elementary school teacher, said, “As a teacher, I feel ashamed to tell my children that our country is still experiencing a disaster that would occur in an underdeveloped country.”
The websites of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the CHA were inundated with messages criticizing the government for negligent management of cultural assets. The CHA’s website was down from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Monday due to overload.
——-
Are they saying it’s their 9-11? You take one line and blow it out of line. The article obviously meant that people felt helpless as they watched the place go down, just like the people looked on helplessly during 9-11. But of course, you’re looking for every little thing to blast Koreans with, so this will do I guess. Whatever, Ugly American.
3:00 pm on February 12th, 2008 10
Tom: “Are they saying it’s their 9-11?”
Chosun Ilbo: ““The Korean equivalent of the 9/11 attacks happened while the whole country was watching.”
…Yes
3:12 pm on February 12th, 2008 11
So these guys including all those people who are overloading the message lines with angry criticisms are saying that it’s their 9-11???
Get a life, pal.
——
Oh Ji-hye (25), an elementary school teacher, said, “As a teacher, I feel ashamed to tell my children that our country is still experiencing a disaster that would occur in an underdeveloped country.”
The websites of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the CHA were inundated with messages criticizing the government for negligent management of cultural assets. The CHA’s website was down from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Monday due to overload.
——-
3:16 pm on February 12th, 2008 12
What’s so special about the 911 anyway? You think people don’t get killed by mass murderers in other countries too? The only that’s so special about 911 I guess is that it happened in America. But you would think America didn’t bomb and kill so many innocent people in other countries just so that Bush and his American people can play cowboy.
5:48 pm on February 12th, 2008 13
Tom: “What’s so special about the 911 anyway?”
I have read many times on blogs, and from people that are familiar with Korea that Koreans lack the ability to feel empathy, now I am starting to believe it.
Why do kyopos hate America so much? I know that most Koreans hate Japan and the USA. They learn hatred from a young age, and hatred and racism is promoted by teachers and the government. Buy how is it that Kyopos like Tom, who are educated in the USA hate their adopted nation so much.
Its only a matter of time before we see Korean Bin Ladens.
6:37 pm on February 12th, 2008 14
Guys, in the immortal words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?”
10:14 pm on February 12th, 2008 15
Trolls are hard to get along with.
10:16 pm on February 12th, 2008 16
“Why do kyopos hate America so much? I know that most Koreans hate Japan and the USA. ”
9:22 am on February 13th, 2008 17
Actually, I think it has a to do with their feeling of alienation from their culture. By hating the country they live in or even the traditional enemies of Korea, they somehow feel more Korean. The problem is no matter what they do, Korean society will never see them as completely Korean anymore. Even Koreans who marry out of the culture are sometimes treated this way. The cultural aspect is as important as the racial aspect. For example, racial Koreans who don’t speak the language are treated as foreigners as soon as they open their mouths.
Combined with a feeling of their inability to fit in with their adopted country, their feeling of alienation causes them to take on the more extreme opinions of Koreans to compensate for a perceived inadequacy. Just my opinion.
3:56 pm on February 14th, 2008 18
Who Tom the Kingkitty reads more of YOUR POST and he thinks maybe its time for you to stay away from the Korean Pharmacys
The Links are all referencing 9-11…and I guess if 9-11 meant anything to you, this would mean something but no your defending retards who are so lax with Safety the Korean police will over look buses and motorcycles using cross walks to get ahead of traffic or the fact that many of the older appartment buildings have no real safety devises in case of another drunk pissed off guy lights TP because the guard made him move his car out of the Handicap spot
This is a nation of selffish tards who will blame the Americans for everything and never thank them when they save a motorist or save their nation
6:14 am on March 25th, 2008 19
[...] Commander General Bell did a good deed and donated a thousand dollars to the restoration of the destroyed Sungnyemun Gate in [...]