Fire at Yongsan National Hangeul Museum... One Firefighter Injured During Extinguishing (Comprehensive)

No Damage to Cultural Heritage

Photo by Yonhap News

At around 8:40 a.m. on the 1st, a fire broke out at the National Hangeul Museum in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and the fire authorities are currently extinguishing it.

The fire department issued a Level 1 response 50 minutes after the fire started and is conducting firefighting operations with 39 pieces of equipment and about 140 personnel.

The fire started on the 3rd floor and spread to the 4th floor, but due to materials piled up on the 4th floor making access difficult, they are having trouble controlling the flames.

The museum was closed due to an extension construction, so there were no visitors, but one firefighter who entered the museum to extinguish the fire was injured by falling rebar and was transported to the hospital. Additionally, two workers inside the museum were rescued, and four people evacuated.

It has been confirmed that there was no damage to cultural heritage. Since the museum began the extension construction, all artifacts have been separately managed in storage, and to prevent further damage, the collection will be moved to the nearby National Museum of Korea.

The fire authorities suspect that the fire may have started when sparks flew during rebar cutting work at the extension construction site, and they are investigating the exact cause of the fire.

The museum opened in 2014 to promote Hangeul and Hangeul culture, and houses various treasures such as the "Jeongjo Hangeul Eochalcheop," a collection of letters and writings by Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty (reigned 1776?1800), and "Cheonggu Yeongeon," Korea's first collection of songs.

The National Hangeul Museum, opened in 2014 with the goal of creating and widely promoting the literary and cultural value of Hangeul, holds various treasures including the "Jeongjo Hangeul Eochalcheop" and Korea's first collection of songs, "Cheonggu Yeongeon."