Fires at National Heritage Sites Every Three Months... Repeated Damage at Gyeongbokgung and Hahoe Village
Damage Concentrated in 33 Wooden Structures
Outdated Management Systems Amid Climate Change
Over the past 17 years, there have been more than 50 fires at national heritage sites.
According to the "National Heritage Disaster Occurrence Statistics and Case Handbook (2024)" released by the Cultural Heritage Administration on March 30, there were 56 fires at national heritage sites between 2008 and 2024. North Gyeongsang Province had the highest number with 14 cases, followed by Seoul with nine cases, and Jeju, South Chungcheong, and Gangwon provinces each with five cases.
By type, national folk cultural heritage sites suffered the most damage, accounting for 23 cases. This category includes clothing, tools, and houses used in customs and traditions related to food, clothing, shelter, occupations, and beliefs. Hahoe Village in Andong and Seongeup Village in Jeju each experienced five fires, while Yangdong Village in Gyeongju suffered three. Both Hahoe and Yangdong Villages, recognized for their long history as clan villages, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010.
There were also 14 cases of fires at historic sites. Significant damage also occurred at other major cultural properties, including seven cases involving treasures and three involving national treasures. Gyeongbokgung Palace, where a fire broke out on March 28, had also shown signs of fire damage in 2022, with scorch marks found on the wall about 25 meters from the right side of Gwanghwamun Gate towards the East Cross Pavilion. Most of the damage was concentrated in wooden structures, totaling 33 cases. Of these, 43 cases involved direct damage, 11 involved surrounding impact, and two involved complex damage.
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During the same period, the total number of disaster-related damages to national heritage sites reached 1,141 cases. Storm and flood disasters, such as typhoons, torrential rain, and heavy snow, accounted for 969 cases, making up the majority, with 120 cases recorded in 2024 alone. The Korea Building Safety Center, which conducted the research, emphasized that "damage to national heritage sites caused by climate change is on the rise," and stressed the need to "thoroughly review past cases and update disaster statistics to reflect recent trends and types of damage, in order to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents."
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