While Everything Around Was Burned, Andong Manhyujeong Survived the Flames
Fire-Retardant Cloth Applied to Pillars and Lower Parts Before the Spread of the Fire
On the morning of the 26th, a fireproof tarp was covering Manhyujeong in Gilan-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News
Attention is focused on the fire-retardant cloth that played a decisive role in protecting Andong Manhyujeong (晩休亭), which was once reported to have been completely destroyed due to the wildfire spread in Gyeongbuk, as it miraculously 'survived' the flames.
On the 26th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced, "After confirming the area around Andong Manhyujeong, which was initially reported as destroyed, it has been determined that it did not suffer damage from the wildfire." They added, "Currently, some scorch marks were found on a few pine trees, but there is no other damage."
The reason Manhyujeong was able to avoid the fire was thanks to the fire-retardant cloth. This cloth is a fabric woven with special fire-resistant materials on cotton textiles, serving to block flames during a fire. It is mainly stocked for safety in industrial and public facilities. According to the Cultural Heritage Administration, about 40 people including Andong City officials, Gyeongbuk Northern Care Center staff, and firefighters applied the fire-retardant cloth to the pillars and lower parts of the pavilion the previous day and also sprayed water on the nearby Manhyujeong garden.
Park Daejin, director of the Andong City Tourism Association, who inspected the site that morning, said, "Despite the wildfire risk, thanks to the firefighters and officials who covered the site with the fire-retardant cloth and stayed until the very end before evacuating, we were able to protect Manhyujeong." Earlier, employees of the Andong City Tourism Association who had heard the news of Manhyujeong’s destruction visited the site in the morning and shed tears upon seeing that it had not been destroyed. It is also reported that the plum tree blooming next to Manhyujeong miraculously escaped the fire.
Famous as the filming location of the drama 'Mr. Sunshine,' Manhyujeong is a pavilion built in the late years of the Joseon Dynasty by the scholar Kim Gyehaeng (1431?1517), also known as Bobaekdang. According to the Cultural Heritage Administration’s National Heritage Portal, Kim Gyehaeng left the teaching, "If there is a treasure in my house, it is only clarity and purity," and was known as an incorruptible and upright official. The pavilion, harmonizing with the surrounding nature, is designated as a cultural heritage material by Gyeongbuk Province. In 2011, the valley and waterfall around the pavilion were also designated as the scenic site 'Andong Manhyujeong Garden.'
Meanwhile, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration’s tally on the 27th, 15 national heritage sites were confirmed damaged by the recent wildfire, including the complete destruction of Uiseong Gounsa Temple. This includes 11 nationally designated sites (2 Treasures, 3 Scenic Sites, 3 Natural Monuments, and 3 National Folk Cultural Heritages) and 4 provincially designated sites (1 Tangible Cultural Heritage, 1 Monument, and 2 Cultural Heritage Materials). Due to concerns over wildfire damage to national heritage caused by simultaneous wildfires nationwide, the Cultural Heritage Administration has issued a 'Severe' level national heritage disaster crisis alert across the country.
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