Fascinating Korea: Namdaemun (The Great Southern Gate)

 

Namdaemun or Sungyemun was officially listed among the National Treasures of Korean Heritage. Built around the 14th century Namdaeumun was a historic "Pagoda Style" gateway, located  in Jung-gu between Seoul Station and Seoul City Plaza. Namdaeumun itself was once one of the three major gateways through Seoul's city walls which had a stone circuit of 18.2 kilometres (11.3 mi) and stood up to 6.1 metres (20 ft) high.

Namdaemun in 1904

The Korean Government call Sungyemun (The Exalted Ceremonies Gate) was actually called Namdaemun since Joseon Dynasty, but it was called differently due to occupation of Korea by Japanese during World War II. The Japanese colonial officially called the site Namdaemun, but in the modern era Korean Government disposed all of colonial absurd and the official name Sungyemun was derived in order to reclaim Korean heritage from Japanese imperialism.

Namdaemun was the oldest wooden structure in Seoul. The city gate, made of wood and stone with a two-tiered, pagoda-shaped tiled roof, was completed in 1398 and originally used to greet foreign emissaries, control access to the capital city, and keep out Korean tigers, which have long been gone from the area. 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.

Namdaeumun was set on fire somewhat aroun 8:30 PM in 10 February 2008

The disaster came out when suddenly Namdaemun was caught on fire on night in 10 February 2008. The fire was majorly destroyed the wooden root top, fire was burn so great thus the firefighters kept fighting until midnight.

After the incident, 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 figured out the motive 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.

 

Chae Jong-gi reconstructed his Crime Action

The Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea said that it would undertake a three-years project that would cost an estimated ₩20 billion (approximately $14 million) to rebuild and restore the historic gate. President Lee Myung-bak proposed starting a private donation campaign to finance the restoration of the structure.

Namdaemun After the fire incident

Credit: This article was adopted from wikipedia, some text are in original state.