2008 Namdaemun fire

Arson attack in Seoul, South Korea February 2026 남대문화재편집24.jpg Namdaemun on fire February 10, 2008 8:50 p.m Seoul, South Korea 37 33 36 N 126 58 31 E type:event_region:KR-11 inline,title Arson Extinguished, no casualties reported On February 10, 2008, an arsonist set fire to the historic Namdaemun gate (officially "Sungnyemun") in Seoul, South Korea, causing severe damage to the 550-year-old structure. The monument was restored and reopened to the public in 2013. Fire The fire reportedly broke out at approximately 8:50 p.m. on February 10, 2008. Firefighters soon arrived on the scene and started dousing the blaze with water in an attempt to extinguish the fire. Initially, the effort seemed successful: by the latter part of the day, firefighters said they believed that they had contained the fire, with only minimal damage done to the wooden structure topping the otherwise stone structure. According to reports, they had been instructed by authorities not to be aggressive in fighting the fire out of fear that the structure would be damaged by the high-pressure water.http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2008/02/11/73/0302000000AEN20080211002100315F.HTML Koreans mourn fall of Namdaemun, national treasure No.1 Yonhap News Agency February 11, 2008 February 14, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080214174704/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2008/02/11/73/0302000000AEN20080211002100315F.HTML February 14, 2008 live After midnight, however, the dying fire suddenly reignited, quickly getting out of control. Despite the efforts of the more than 360 firefighters who were at the scene, the fire soon ended up destroying the entire wooden structure and causing substantial damage to the stone walls.Korea's Historic Namdaemun Gate Toppled By Fire Vivian Wai-yin Kwok Forbes February 11, 2008 https://www.forbes.com/2008/02/11/fire-destroys-namdaemun-face-markets-cx_vk_0211autofacescan01.html February 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080214023019/http://www.forbes.com/2008/02/11/fire-destroys-namdaemun-face-markets-cx_vk_0211autofacescan01.html February 14, 2008 live https://flickr.com/photos/pwalks/sets/72157603882436188/ Namdaemun Great South Gate Fire Feb 10/2008 - a photoset on Flickr September 19, 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080214202021/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pwalks/sets/72157603882436188/ February 14, 2008 The fire did not result in any injuries.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7238210.stm Fire ravages South Korea landmark BBC News February 11, 2008 February 11, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080212224514/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7238210.stm February 12, 2008 live Arsonist right 500 Korea-Seoul-Namdaemun-Sungnyemun-03.jpg Sungnyemun, 11 February 2008.jpg Namdaemun before the fire (left) and after Originally, the fire had been suspected to be accidental. However, many witnesses reported seeing someone enter the gate shortly before the fire, and two disposable lighters were found where the fire was believed to have started. Later investigations revealed that the fire was indeed an act of arson. A 69-year-old man, identified as Chae Jong-gi (채종기 蔡宗基), was taken into police custody on February 12, on the suspicion that he started the fire. Chae confessed to the crime 30 minutes after his arrest.Man 'confesses to S Korea blaze' BBC News February 12, 2008 February 13, 2008 https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7240220.stm https://web.archive.org/web/20080213071558/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7240220.stm February 13, 2008 live Kim Tae-jong Suspect Admits Arson on Namdaemun The Korea Times December 12, 2008 http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18767.html February 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080215193623/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18767.html February 15, 2008 dead Man 'Arsonist Blames President Roh' The Korea Times February 14, 2008 https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/117_18955.html February 14, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080215193713/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/117_18955.html February 15, 2008 live According to police reports, Chae arrived at Namdaemun around 8:35 p.m. carrying an aluminum ladder, three 1.5-liter bottles of paint thinner, and two cigarette lighters. With the ladder, he climbed the western wall of the gate, entered the gate, and walked up to the second floor. There, he started the fire by sprinkling the floor with paint thinner and lighting it.http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2886144 Gate was 'easy to approach and poorly guarded' Korea JoongAng Daily February 13, 2008 March 18, 2008 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090217235312/http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2886144 February 17, 2009 Chae stated that he had started the fire because he was upset about not having been paid in full for land he had sold to developers. Chae had also been charged with setting fire to the Changgyeonggung palace complex in Seoul in 2006.SKorea arsonist in Namdaemun fire had grudge over land dispute: police Agence France-Presse http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h4cfjlM7LVtJSzek6TNEkGbO61KA February 12, 2008 February 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080215120645/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h4cfjlM7LVtJSzek6TNEkGbO61KA February 15, 2008 dead Hyung-Jin Kim Fire destroys South Korean landmark Associated Press Yahoo! News February 11, 2008 February 11, 2008 https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080211/ap_on_re_as/skorea_landmark_fire https://web.archive.org/web/20080213091333/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080211/ap_on_re_as/skorea_landmark_fire February 13, 2008 live The reason he targeted Namdaemun was because it was easily accessible and was only secured by motion sensors.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3357138.ece Suspect held after blaze guts South Korean landmark The Times London February 12, 2008 February 13, 2008 Will PaviaSeptember 2024 medicmedic He also considered attacking trains or buses, but decided against it due to the high number of casualties this would cause.http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200802/200802130010.html Namdaemun Arson Suspect Confesses The Chosun Ilbo February 13, 2008 February 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080214210346/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200802/200802130010.html February 14, 2008 dead On April 25, 2008, Chae was convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment by the Seoul Central District Court.https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_23138.html Namdaemun Arsonist Receives 10-Year Jail Term The Korea Times April 25, 2008 December 22, 2024 December 22, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241222140922/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_23138.html live Aftermath South Korean newspapers blamed the government for failing to provide more security.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arrest-in-burning-of-s-korean-landmark/ Arrest In Burning Of S. Korean Landmark CBS News February 12, 2008 February 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219210044/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/12/world/main3820290.shtml?source=search_story February 19, 2008 live The Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea stated that it would take three years and $21 million to rebuild and restore the historic gate.Choe Sang-Hun South Korean Gate Destroyed in Fire The New York Times February 12, 2008 https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/world/asia/12korea.html February 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20090417073529/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/world/asia/12korea.html April 17, 2009 live In 2006, 182 pages of blueprints of the gate had been made as a contingency measure against possible damages, making reconstruction possible.Three Years Needed for Restoration Chung Ah-young The Korea Times February 11, 2008 https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18722.html February 5, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090220115426/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18722.html February 20, 2009 live President Lee Myung-bak proposed starting a private donation campaign to finance the restoration of the gate.Kim Yon-se Donation for Gate Restoration Proposed The Korea Times February 12, 2008 https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/116_18782.html February 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080215193634/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/116_18782.html February 15, 2008 live Many people felt that the government should pay for the restoration because it had failed to adequately protect the structure.http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2008/02/13/42/0302000000AEN20080213003400315F.HTML Controversy erupts over fundraising for historic gate Yonhap News Agency Shin Hae-in February 13, 2008 February 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219003251/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2008/02/13/42/0302000000AEN20080213003400315F.HTML February 19, 2008 live Lee's transitional committee clarified the president-elect's comments by stating that the government would pay for the majority of the restoration. The restored gate reopened to the public on May 5, 2013, having been rebuilt using traditional tools and techniques. The project cost 25 billion won to complete and includes new fire suppression systems and closed-circuit television cameras.Klug Foster April 29, 2013 South Korea's landmark Namdaemun gate to reopen http://www.staradvertiser.com/2013/04/29/breaking-news/south-koreas-landmark-namdaemun-gate-to-reopen/ Honolulu Star-Advertiser February 9, 2018 February 10, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121003/http://www.staradvertiser.com/2013/04/29/breaking-news/south-koreas-landmark-namdaemun-gate-to-reopen/ live Cha Frances May 9, 2013 South Korea's No. 1 national treasure reopens after five years http://travel.cnn.com/south-koreas-no1-national-treasure-yep-they-rank-them-reopens-after-5-years-497181/ CNN February 9, 2018 October 26, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221026135020/https://www.cnn.com/travel live See also Daegu subway fire References External links 2008 Namdaemun fire Pictures published by BBC News Fire ravages South Korea landmark, BBC News, February 11, 2008 Arrest In Burning Of S. Korean Landmark CBS News, February 12, 2008 Arson suspected as blaze destroys South Korea's top cultural monument, The Times, February 11, 2008 Suspect held after blaze guts South Korean landmark,January 2025 medicmedic The Times, February 12, 2008 Category:2008 crimes in South Korea Category:2008 fires in Asia Category:2000s in Seoul Category:Arson in South Korea Category:Arson in 2008 Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2008 Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in South Korea Category:Building and structure fires in South Korea Category:Crime in Seoul Category:February 2008 crimes in Asia Category:February 2008 in South Korea Category:Jung District, Seoul