This article appeared in the
Korea Timeson Feb. 10, 2008. I read this article in a Korean newspaper at a little Korean grocery store in Columbus, Ohio. It's one of those things that you remember where you were when you heard the news - like the assassination of John Kennedy, the Challenger explosion, or the attacks of Sept. 11,2001.
Obviously this was a very early article as it reports that very little damage was done to this historic landmark. Actually, the fire flared again and the wooden structure was nearly totally destroyed, except for part of the gates and a portion of the name plate.
Fortunately, when the Great South Gate had undergone extensive restoration just a few years earlier, detailed blueprints were made. The gate is being rebuilt, and due to be reopened on 2012.
Arson Suspected in Namdaemun Fire
By Lee Hyo-sik
Staff Reporter
"A 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."
English Text:
SEOUL SUNGNYEMUN
Designation: National Treasure No. 1
Period: Jeoson Dynasty 1398
Location: 29 Namdaemunno 4(sa)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
This was the main gate in the fortress wall of Seoul. It is also called Namdaemun (Great South Gate), as it is the southern gate of the capital city. It was first constructed in 1398, and was rebuilt in 1448.
The gatehouse, which measures 5 kan (a kan is the interval between pillars) in width and 2 kan in depth, is a wooden structure built in typical style. It is the largest gate in Korea. There are some conflicting theories about the author of the characters on the plaque hanging from the gate, but it is recorded in and old text called "Jibongyeseol" (1634) that they were written by Prince Yangnyeong.
From the Wikipedia
Construction began in 1395 during the fourth year of the reign of King Taejo of Joseon and was finished in 1398. The structure was rebuilt in 1447 and was renovated several times since. It was originally one of three main gates, the others being the East Gate (Dongdaemun) and the now-demolished West Gate in the Seodaemun-gu district, named after the old gate.
In the early part of the 20th century, the city walls that surrounded Seoul were demolished, ostensibly "to make the traffic system more efficient." A visit to Seoul by the Crown Prince of Japan prompted the demolition of the walls around Namdaemun, as the prince was deemed to be too exalted to pass through the gateway.
The gate was closed to the public in 1907 after the Japanese colonial authorities constructed an electric tramway nearby. Namdaemun was extensively damaged during the Korean War and was given its last major repair in 1961, with a completion ceremony held on May 14, 1963. It was given the status of "National Treasure No.1" on December 20, 1962.
The Gate was renovated again in 2005 with the building of a lawn around the gate, before being opened once again to the public with much fanfare on March 3, 2006.
During the restoration, 182 pages of blueprints for the gate were made as a contingency against any emergencies which may damage the structure. Three years later, such an emergency arose.
At approximately 8:50 p.m. on February 10, 2008, a fire broke out and severely damaged the wooden structure at the top of the Namdaemun gate. The fire roared out of control again after midnight and finally destroyed the structure, despite the efforts of more than 360 firefighters.
Many witnesses reported seeing a suspicious man shortly before the fire, and two disposable lighters were found where the fire was believed to have started. A 69-year-old man identified as Chae Jong-gi was arrested on suspicion of arson and then later confessed to the crime.
A police captain reported that Chae sprayed paint thinner on the floor of the structure and then set fire to it. Police say that Chae was upset about not being paid in full for land he had sold to developers. The same man had been charged with setting a fire at Changgyeong Palace in Seoul in 2006.
Namdaemun
The photos for this waymark were taken in March 2009, about a month after Namdaemun was oficially reopened for public viewing of the reconstruction. The target date for completion is 2012, when it will once again be unveiled in all of its grandeur. It will remain National Treasure No. 1 in the minds and hearts of the people.
During the reconstruction phase, there is a wall surrounding the site with large panoramic photos of the gate, and there is a wonderful display of old photographs and history of the gate from its planning over 650 years ago, through its various phases of use, disuse, and refurbishing over the centuries.
All photos for this waymark are of those displays.
Ancient map of old Seoul showing the walls and location of Namdaemun ca. 1392
Namdaemun - 1888
Namdaemun - 1890
Namdaemun - 1905 (l) 1911 (r)
Namdaemun - 1929 (l) 1932 (r)
Namdaemun - 1940
Namdaemun - 1952 (l) 1963 (r)
Namdaemun - 1970 (l) 2006 (r)
Namdaemun - Feb. 10, 2008