Damaged, Collapsed, Toppled... 14 Cases of National Heritage Sites Hit by Heavy Rain

UNESCO World Heritage Site Joseon Royal Tombs Also Damaged

Heavy rainfall that swept through the northern regions of Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeonggi has caused extensive damage to national heritage sites.

Part of the deck of the former Samhogyu Bridge in Ulsan collapsed on the afternoon of the 20th. National Heritage Agency

As of 11 a.m. on July 21, the National Heritage Agency announced that 14 cases of damage to national heritage sites due to the heavy rain had been confirmed. This is an increase of six cases compared to the same time the previous day.

By type, there were seven cases involving historic sites, the most among the categories, followed by three cases involving nationally registered cultural heritage sites, two cases involving treasures, and one case each involving national treasures and scenic sites.

By region, there were four cases in South Chungcheong, three in Gyeonggi, two each in Seoul and South Jeolla, and one case each in Ulsan, North Gyeongsang, and South Gyeongsang.

In terms of the type of damage, there were seven cases of soil loss, four cases of damage to trees, and three cases of facility damage.

UNESCO World Heritage sites were also affected. In Gwangneung, Namyangju, two fir trees and two pine trees were toppled, and the management building, history and culture center, visitor restrooms, and parking lot at the royal tombs site were flooded. All fallen or broken trees have now been cleared, and restoration of the walking paths and other facilities is scheduled to take place as soon as possible.

In Ulsan, where more than 330 millimeters of rain fell over three days from July 17 to 19, part of the former Samhogyu Bridge, which was built in 1924, collapsed, leading to a restriction on access to the area.

Damage to the nationally registered cultural heritage site 'Bongseonsa Main Hall in Namyangju.' Cultural Heritage Administration

Damage was also reported in the northern part of Gyeonggi Province, where heavy rain was concentrated over the weekend. At the nationally registered cultural heritage site Bongseonsa Main Hall in Namyangju, a pine tree was toppled, damaging part of the rear section of the main hall. Restoration work is currently underway.

The National Heritage Agency has currently issued and is operating a "caution" level alert for national heritage sites. The agency stated, "We are implementing emergency measures to prevent secondary damage and safety accidents, while also monitoring the status of the damage and high-risk areas."