Fire Destroys 610 year old South Korean Landmark

Fire Destroys 610 year old South Korean Landmark

news.nationalgeographic.com

February 11, 2008—Firefighters battle a blaze at South Korea's 610-year-old Namdaemun gate.

Police arrested a 70-year-old man suspected of setting the fire that destroyed the country's top cultural treasure, according to Korean news reports.

Police had said earlier Monday that the cause of the blaze was unclear, but officials said arson was suspected.

The fire broke out Sunday night and burned down the wooden structure at the top of the stone gate, which once formed part of a wall that encircled the South Korean capital of Seoul.

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It always saddens me when I hear of things like this, especially when it seems to have been deliberate. Such gems are not just the patrimony of the nation involved, in this case, South Korea, but they are the patrimony of our entire species and should be protected as our links to the past.

news.nationalgeographic.com
(visit the link for the full news article)