23 National Heritage Sites Damaged by Wildfires as of 5 p.m. on the 27th
On the 27th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that 23 national heritage sites were confirmed to have been damaged due to wildfires by 5 p.m. This is an increase of five sites from the 18 counted by 11 a.m. that day.
The newly confirmed damaged national heritage sites include Jisan Seodang, Jichon Jongtaek, Guktan Daek, Songseok Jae-sa, and Guam Jeongsa in Andong. Jisan Seodang is a building established to honor the virtue of Jichon Kim Bang-geol (1623?1695). It was built in 1800 but was demolished under Heungseon Daewongun's order to abolish seowon (private Confucian academies). It was restored in 1926 but relocated to its current location in 1988 due to the construction of Imha Dam. Jichon Jongtaek, the ancestral home of Kim Bang-geol, and Guktan Daek, built by his descendant Kim Si-jeong (1737?1805) after branching out, were moved to their current sites in 1985 and 1988, respectively. These buildings, which were gathered in Jirye Arts Village where traditional living experiences are offered, were all reduced to ashes in the recent wildfire. Songseok Jae-sa, relocated from Sa-ui-dong, Imha-myeon to this location in 1987, was also completely burned down. This building is a jaesil (a house built next to a tomb or shrine for performing ancestral rites) that protects the tomb of Kim Cheol (1569?1616), who raised a militia and made significant contributions during the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War). Guam Jeongsa, a shrine housing the memorial tablet of the Joseon Dynasty scholar Kim Geun (1579?1656), suffered partial fire damage, including the destruction of its gate.
As damage continues mainly in the northern Gyeongbuk region, the number of affected national heritage sites may increase. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "To protect against wildfire risks, we are continuing emergency measures such as spraying water and installing fire-retardant sheets as a preventive measure."
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