Fire Guts Seoul's Historic Sungnyemun Gate

[영어도우미]

Police looking for suspected arsonist
Fire Guts Seoul's Historic Sungnyemun Gate

Firefighters battle a blaze at Namdaemun gate in the heart of Seoul..

One South Korea's most historic sites, the Namdaemun gate in the heart of the capital Seoul, was destroyed in a blaze suspected to have been caused by an arsonist on Feb. 10.

Firefighters said the cause of the blaze had yet to be determined but there were no casualties. Four dozen firemen rushed to the scene to bring the flames under control late Sunday.

The fire started around 8:50 p.m. and police suspect someone deliberately started the fire.

A Seoul taxi driver told the police that he witnessed a man in his 50s going up the stairs of the gate with a shopping bag, while he was waiting to pick up a customer in the nearby area.The cabby went on to say that he then saw a spark like a firework.

The whereabouts of the suspected arsonist are yet to be known, however.

Based on the CCTV tape record, police are looking for the man.

Namdaemun, the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, was originally built in 1398 and then renovated in 1962, following its destruction during the Korean War. It was given the status of National Treasure No. 1.

Sungnyemun or Namdaemun is a historic gate, which used to protect the city from Korean tigers, which have long been gone from the area. Namdaemun, literally "the great southern gate," because it was the southern gate of the original walls surrounding Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty.

Currently, Sungnyemun serves as a gateway to Namdaemun market, a traditional twenty-four hour market that has been operating for centuries. The area is also home to several shopping malls.

The wooden part of the gate was destroyed by fire on February 10, 2008. According to some witnesses, the fire started by incendiary. The identity of the arsonist is not yet known. However, a taxi driver in the area observed a male approximately 50 years of age climbing to the second floor with a lighted bag and then could be seen running from the area.

Sungnyemun is currently the oldest wood-built structure remaining in Seoul. The construction of this gate began in 1395 during the fourth year of the reign of King Taejo of Joseon and was finished in 1398.

The remaining structure went through renovation during the reign of King Sejong (1447) and the tenth year of the reign of King Seongjong (1479).

In the early part of the 20th century, the city walls that surrounded Seoul were demolished by the Japanese Government, allegedly to ease the flow of traffic in the area. The gate is located halfway between Seoul Station and Seoul City Plaza.

Sungnyemun was damaged during the Korean War and was given its last major repair in 1962, when it was given the status of "National Treasure No.1" on December 20, 1962.

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VOCABULARY LIST :

arsonist - a criminal who illegally sets fire to property 

casualties - a person who is wounded or killed in a battle, accident etc.

whereabouts - the place where a person or thing is; the locality of a person or thing

gateway - an entrance or passage that may be closed by a gate

DISCUSSION POINTS :

1. Tell me something about the Namdaemun Gate.

2. How did you feel when you heard the news that the historic gate was set on fire?

3. What do you think will be the effects of this incident to your country?

4. What do you think are the possible reasons why the arsonist committed this crime?

5. What did the government say regarding this incident?

6. Has something similar happened in Korea before? Tell me more about it.

7. Tell me about the other national treasures of Korea.