A wildfire that started in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk is approaching Dosan Seowon in Andong, Gyeongbuk, a sacred site of Korean spiritual culture and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to forestry authorities on the 26th, the fire line that spread to Namsun-myeon, Andong, has advanced northward to within about 20 km in a straight line from Dosan Seowon. Evacuation orders have newly been issued for nearby villages including Dosan-myeon, Yean-myeon, and Nokjeon-myeon.
Before the wildfire reached the area, Dosan Seowon took preemptive measures by relocating the relics and books of Toegye Yi Hwang to the National Institute of Korean Studies, and by cutting down pine and maple trees to establish a defensive line.
All staff at the Dosan Seowon management office are scheduled to be fully deployed in case of emergency, and two fire trucks, firefighters, and volunteer fire brigades are preparing for any eventuality.
Dosan Seowon was established in 1574 to honor and commemorate the scholarship and virtue of Toegye Yi Hwang. In 2019, it was included as one of nine seowon in Korea inscribed on the World Heritage list by the World Heritage Committee. Dosan Seodang and the dormitory building Nongunjeongsa were designated as national treasures in 2020.
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