Minister Yoon In-chon Visits Gounsa and Unramsa Temples Affected by Wildfire... Promises Swift Restoration Support

Minister Yoo In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism visited Gounsa and Unramsa Temples in Gyeongbuk, which suffered significant damage from a large-scale wildfire, on the 2nd and promised swift support for damage recovery.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that Minister Yoo inspected the wildfire damage sites together with Choi Eung-cheon, Commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration, and other officials on the same day.

Gounsa Temple, damaged by the wildfire, is the head temple of the 16th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and a thousand-year-old temple founded in 681 by Uisang Daesa during the Silla period. It is also a representative traditional temple in the Gyeongbuk region, housing numerous cultural heritages including treasures such as Yeonsujeon and Gaunru.

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, visited Gounsa Temple in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk on the 2nd to inspect the wildfire damage site.
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Minister Yoo first visited Gounsa Temple to console Ven. Deungun, the head monk, checked the damage situation within the temple grounds where major buildings were destroyed by the wildfire, and discussed recovery plans with related personnel. He then visited Unramsa Temple, where major buildings were also destroyed by the wildfire, to assess the damage and listen to on-site opinions.

Minister Yoo said, "I deeply regret that some traditional temples, including the thousand-year-old Gounsa Temple, were damaged by the wildfire in the Yeongnam region. Traditional temples are cultural heritages with cultural value and historical significance, and we will cooperate with the Cultural Heritage Administration, local governments, and related agencies to explore and support various measures to promptly restore the damage."

Minister Yoo In-chon visited the joint memorial altar for wildfire victims set up in Andong to pay his respects and encouraged the officials at the Central Joint Support Center who are making every effort to recover from the wildfire damage.