Old House Ground Subsidence and Wall Collapse... Consecutive National Heritage Damages Due to Heavy Rainfall

Nine More Cases Than Previous Day's Count
Retaining Wall Collapses Due to Landslide Near Manhoe Gotaek
Some Stone Walls Collapse Around Songgwangsa and Seonamsa Temples

Damage to national heritage sites caused by heavy rains during the monsoon season is occurring one after another. According to the Cultural Heritage Administration on the 19th, since the start of the monsoon on the 23rd of last month until 5 p.m. on this day, there have been fifty cases of damage to nationally designated cultural properties. This is nine more cases than the forty-one recorded the previous day. By designation, historic sites accounted for the most with twenty cases. National folk cultural properties had ten cases, natural monuments and scenic sites had seven cases each, treasures had three cases, nationally registered cultural properties had two cases, and national treasures had one case. By region, Gyeongbuk suffered the most damage with nineteen cases. Jeonnam had eight cases, Chungnam seven cases, Jeonbuk five cases, Gangwon and Chungbuk three cases each, Gyeonggi two cases, and Seoul, Busan, and Gwangju one case each.

Mungyeong Naehwari Three-Story Stone Pagoda

The newly reported nationally designated cultural properties include Bonghwa Manhwae Gotaek, Bonghwa Ssangbyeokdang Jongtaek, Bonghwa Mansan Gotaek, Bonghwa Seoseoldang Gotaek (all National Folk Cultural Properties), Yecheon Choganjeong area (scenic site), Yecheon Geumdangsil Songrim (natural monument), Icheon Eojaeyeon Gotaek (National Folk Cultural Property), Suncheon Songgwangsa and Seonamsa area (scenic sites), and Mungyeong Naehwari Three-story Stone Pagoda (treasure). At Manhwae Gotaek, a landslide occurred nearby, pushing soil heaps around the fence. Access is currently restricted and restoration is underway. Ssangbyeokdang Jongtaek and Mansan Gotaek experienced roof leaks, and Seoseoldang Gotaek had some ground subsidence due to improper drainage.

Suncheon Songgwangsa Temple

At the Choganjeong area, soil was washed away and fence tiles and bridge railings were damaged. Safety tapes have been installed around the access road bridge area, and the surroundings are being maintained. At Geumdangsil Songrim, fallen trees have led to restricted access. At Eojaeyeon Gotaek, part of the fence collapsed, and a tarp was installed to prevent further damage. At the Songgwangsa and Seonamsa area, some stone retaining walls collapsed and waterproof sheets were installed, and restoration work is ongoing at the Naehwari Three-story Stone Pagoda where soil heaps flowed in. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "For now, we are focusing on emergency measures and preventing safety accidents caused by additional damage while carrying out restoration work," and added, "We will continue to monitor the restoration status and accept urgent repair requests."