Namdaemun or the Great South Gate burned to the ground

[belfastuniguy 18]

A 14th Century gate in the South Korean capital, Seoul, has been partly destroyed by fire in a what police believe may have been an arson attack.

Namdaemun, or the Great South Gate, was considered to be the country's greatest national treasure.

More than 100 firefighters fought the blaze which broke out late on Sunday, but the wooden structure collapsed, leaving only the stone base intact.

Two years ago it was re-opened to the public for the first time since 1907.

President-elect Lee Myung-bak visited the site on Monday, and said simply: "People's hearts will ache."

Rare monument

Officially called Sungnyemun or Gate of Exalted Ceremonies, the gate had served as the main entrance to the city when Seoul became Korea's capital more than 600 years ago.

It was one of the few historic monuments in a thoroughly modernised city, which had survived both the 1910-1945 Japanese occupation and the Korean war of 1950-1953.

The BBC's Kevin Kim in Seoul says it was initially thought that the fire had been put out when fire crews arrived at the gate shortly after the blaze was reported.

But South Koreans were then shocked to see flames flare up at the building as they watched live images on national television.

Officials from Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration had told firefighters to proceed cautiously, meaning they could not immediately break into the area where the fire started, according to local media.

Professor Lee Su-kyung of Seoul National University of Technology told Reuters news agency the fire could have been controlled early on had the firefighters targeted the right spot.

"Someone could have gone inside the structure," he said. "I just don't understand."

The police have refused to rule out either arson or an electrical fault as a possible cause of the fire.

Yonhap news agency quoted one official as saying that disposable lighters had been found at the point where the fire is believed to have broken out.

There were also reports of a man being seen at the building shortly before the blaze was reported.

But officials said that early eyewitness accounts were "confusing".

One officer said images from security cameras reviewed by authorities had shown no suspects.

Grief

"It is heartbreaking," said Kim Duk-Il, 40, a visitor from the southern city of Daegu, as the national icon was reduced to ashes.

"It remained okay even during the Korean War," Mr Kim told the AFP news agency, wiping away tears. "Our pride has fallen down."

First constructed in 1398, rebuilt in 1447 and renovated several times since, Namdaemun was the oldest wooden building in Seoul.

The two-storey structure had been given the status of "National Treasure number one" in 1962.

Initial estimates say the gate will take three years to restore, at a cost of $21m.

Authorities say they have detailed plans of the gate after measuring it in 2006.

The blaze comes less than three years after fire destroyed one of the country's oldest Buddhist temples, Naksan temple, along with its pr

[Meg 368]

Well, that bleeps.   Why burn down a cool, old historical landmark?

What a waste.

[spa 970]

"partially" destroyed by fire? I would hate to see what completely destroyed by fire looks like! Looks a real loss.

[BurroDiablo 222]

Wow... thats pretty tragic, always hurts when something like that happens. They'll rebuild it but it won't be the same... unless they can find some special 14th Century wood to use.

[Duke87 1,070]

Hey, that was one of the landmarks in Simcity 3000!

Well, now the World Trade Center no longer has a monopoly on the club of Simcity landmarks that existed at the time of the game's release but don't anymore....

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Duke87

Hey, that was one of the landmarks in Simcity 3000!

Well, now the World Trade Center no longer has a monopoly on the club of Simcity landmarks that existed at the time of the game's release but don't anymore....quote>

That's a pretty lousy club to be in.  Let's hope there are no more members.

[deadwoods 542]

Whilst much of Seoul was destroyed a number of times over in the Korean War, Namdaemun was one of the old structures that survived. It is a real shame when something like this happens. Sure you can rebuild, but it's not quite the same. I was working in Korea last year and Namdaemun was just down the hill from my hotel so I walked down there one chilly evening. It was quite amazing, all lit up with spotlights and surrounded by tall office buildings.

[DuskTrooper 314]

Expletive shame.

[coolotter88 2]

well that's a shame, there are a whole bunch of ancient city gates in China that look just the same though.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Tragic.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek

Originally posted by: Duke87

Hey, that was one of the landmarks in Simcity 3000!

Well, now the World Trade Center no longer has a monopoly on the club of Simcity landmarks that existed at the time of the game's release but don't anymore....quote>

That's a pretty lousy club to be in.  Let's hope there are no more members.quote>

I understand what you're saying, though I must point out the futility of that hope. After all, nothing is immune to the effects of time. Nothing, not even the Earth will be around forever. So, ultimately, that club is doomed to have everything be a member of it.

So, for the sake of being more technically proper, I'm amending that statement: Let's hope there are no more members anytime soon.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Duke87

So, for the sake of being more technically proper, I'm amending that statement: Let's hope there are no more members anytime soon.quote>

Okay, I can go with that.

Although I was referring to destruction caused by human interference, not the natural decay that will destroy everything eventually.

[WackoJak 0]

Geez this is really bad! Not unlike the Statue of Liberty falling over, or the Eiffel Tower being destroyed. This is actually tragic.

[skyliner22 16]

Thats just horrible, that was one of Seoul's premier landmark and i hoped to visit it once, but now that chance wont be happening. Seems like the only way i can check it out now is by playing GT4 and going around the hairpin where the structure stands. sigh....

[Mulefisk 15]

How sad. The world is a slightly less beautiful place. Let's hope they don't replace it with a new glass version and call it The Freedom Great South Gate. (Bah.. that was in bad taste. I'm sorry. )

[adanew 0]

I am currently living in Seoul for my tenth year and just drove past Namdaemoon on Sunday a few hours before the fire. I disagree that it is just like a bunch of city gates in China - this gate is in a spectacular location at the heart of a major intersection with roads spinning off in different directions towards other gorgeous buildings - City Hall, Sejong Boulevard and Sejong Arts Center, the Kwangwhamoon Palace, Seoul Station. In a country such as this where most of the architectural heritage was destroyed over the centuries by constant invasion and war, Namdaemoon was a 600-year-old jewel. Walking or driving past it when lit up at night was like seeing the Eiffel Tower - there was a certain awe factor involved. The gate is a part of the language and the folklore of Korea too, and it is perhaps THE iconic symbol of this country.

I couldn't believe this was allowed to happen. A 69-year old man, angry that the government had expropriated his land and paid him a mere $1,000, 000  for land he said was worth 3 million, was arrested yesterday and confessed. He was arrested in 2006 for setting fire to a local palace and causing $4,000 damage. He was convicted and given a 2-year suspended sentence and, as I understand it, never served any time.

The firefighters thought they had completely extinguished the fire, but were unaware that it was still smoldering under the water-proof roof tiles.

On the news just now reporters were busy sizing up security and fire precautions at the city's other palaces and temples. 'Bout time, I'd say.

http://koreas-wiseman.blogspot.com/2006/10/namdaemoon-great-south-gate.html

[coolotter88 2]

no, I'm just joking, but korean doesn't sound much different from Chinese, I can tell that namdaemun is great south gate, lol.

[Simfan34 11]

The Namdaemun in SC4.

A considerable loss for Seoul and South Korea, but they'll rebuild it, I heard.

[sEAhAwk fAn121 0]

Thats too bad... Something that has survived for centuries just burned to the ground. Looking at the pictures of it burning it almost makes you cry. A sad loss for Seoul and South Korea... When they rebuild it it just won't be the same.

[skyliner22 16]

I read an article and apparently, the guy who burned it was an old guy who lost his property or something and the government was willing to compisate with a million won or may be dollars and it was worth 3 so the guy was pissed and burned it down. I have no idea why he would do his country's landmark. Thats like if someone was to destroy the Golden Gate Bridge! Also apparently he has burned down other palaces in the past.

[panthersimcity4 162]

Oooh, they get snow in South Korea? (Sorry, short attention span today)

So sad! I love Seoul... it's an awesome city. Damn arsonists, they better pay... they should be the ones who have to rebuild it...

[coolotter88 2]

the guy wasn't paid in full for his property by the developers. well, now that he gets his 3 million dollars or whatever, he can pay 1/7th of the cost of rebuilding.