Continuous Heavy Rain Causes Multiple Damages to National Heritage Sites Including the Three-Story Stone Pagoda in Singcheon-ri, Yeonggwang

Thirty-Four Cases of Damage to Nationally Designated Cultural Properties Reported

Due to heavy rains during the monsoon season, damage to national heritage sites is occurring one after another, including the collapse of the stone foundation of a treasure pagoda. According to the Cultural Heritage Administration on the 16th, since the start of the monsoon on the 23rd of last month until 5 p.m. on this day, there have been thirty-four cases of damage to nationally designated cultural properties. This is seven more cases than the twenty-seven recorded at the same time the previous day. By designation, historic sites accounted for the largest number with nineteen cases. Natural monuments and national folk cultural properties each had five cases, scenic sites had three cases, and treasures and nationally registered cultural properties each had one case. By region, Gyeongbuk experienced the most damage with eight cases. Chungnam had seven cases, Jeonnam six, Jeonbuk four, Gangwon three, Chungbuk two, and Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, and Gyeonggi each had one case.

The treasure that suffered damage is the Yeonggwang Sincheon-ri Three-story Stone Pagoda, estimated to have been built in the early Goryeo period. The stone foundation about 2 meters away from the pagoda collapsed approximately 10 meters. The Cultural Heritage Administration has installed temporary protective barriers to prevent further damage. At Andong Hahoe Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site and national folk cultural property, the walls of four houses were damaged by heavy rain. A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "Access has been restricted and safety tape installed." The Hwaseong Dangsung (historic site), estimated to have been constructed during the Three Kingdoms period, had about 3 meters of its outer fortress wall collapse. Hwaseong City is controlling visitor access and managing the site.

In Chungbuk, where record-breaking heavy rain fell, the birthplace and royal placenta site (historic site) of Kim Yushin in Jincheon were damaged. Part of the slope and pine trees were washed away, and soil removal and drainage maintenance work are underway. At Iksan Nabawi Catholic Church (historic site), fallen trees have led to restricted access, and at Naju Mok Gwana and Hyanggyo (historic sites), parts of the walls collapsed, prompting the installation of safety fences. At Mungyeong Saejae (scenic site), part of the drainage system at the first gate was washed away, and at Bonghwa Cheongamjeong and Seokcheon Valley (scenic sites), flooding caused streetlights, lighting, railings, and trees to be swept away.

Additionally, the Gongju Seokjang-ri site (excavation site flooding), Buyeo Royal Tombs (erosion of the slope of Tomb No. 2 in the western burial mound cluster), Buyeo Busosanseong Fortress (damage to the boundary fence of the military storehouse and hiking trails), Buyeo Yeheung Min Clan Old House (damage to the outer wall of the servant quarters), Gongju Muryeong Royal Tomb and Royal Tombs (soil erosion), Gongju Suchon-ri Burial Mound Cluster (slope collapse and soil erosion), Chilgok Maewon Village (collapse of the Seungsan House gate), Bonghwa Songseokheon Old House (collapse of three slope sections), Inje Misan-ri private mineral spring (collapse of stone foundation adjacent to the spring outlet), Inje Hangye Mountain Fortress (partial collapse of the stone foundation at the upper fortress ritual altar), Gwangju Hwanbyeokdang area (pine tree uprooting), Danyang Yeongcheon-ri Arborvitae Forest (damage to 50 meters of cultural heritage protection fencing and damage to ten arborvitae trees), Suncheon Seonamsa Temple (detachment of tiles at Haecheondang and collapse of Muujeon wall), Naju Unam Old House (collapse of the gate wall), Busan Yeonsan-dong Burial Mound Cluster (tree uprooting), Suncheon Nagan Eupseong Fortress (detachment of tiles at the official residence and east hall and flooding of residential buildings), Uiseong Sachon-ri Street Forest (tree uprooting), Uiseong Jeori Dinosaur Footprint Fossil Site (damage to protective roof), and Changdeokgung Palace (collapse of 15 meters of the rear Hwaggye wall of Injeongjeon Hall) all suffered varying degrees of damage.

The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "We are assessing the restoration status and encouraging local governments to take prompt action," adding, "We are also accepting emergency repair applications to prevent further damage." Currently, the remaining budget for emergency repairs is 1.096 billion won.