Many cultural heritages destroyed by forest fires in Korea

The past five days of wildfires have been the worst in South Korea, killing 24 people, destroying more than 300 structures and forcing more than 28,000 people to evacuate, officials said.

Nhiều di sản văn hóa bị tiêu hủy do cháy rừng ở Hàn Quốc- Ảnh 1. — About 20 of the 30 buildings and structures of Gounsa temple were burned down.

Gounsa Temple was built in 681 AD. It is located at the foot of Deungun Mountain in Uiseong Town. Although no buildings from that period remain, it is home to several famous cultural heritages built later.

The temple was engulfed in flames on March 25 when strong winds fanned the wildfire. About 20 of the 30 buildings and structures at Gounsa Temple were completely destroyed, including Gaunru, a structure built in 1668 overlooking a stream, and Yeonsujeon, built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king, according to the Korea Heritage Administration.

Nhiều di sản văn hóa bị tiêu hủy do cháy rừng ở Hàn Quốc- Ảnh 2. — Remains of burned buildings at Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, South Korea

Uiseong and Yeonsujeon were both built during the Joseon Dynasty, the last dynasty in Korea, and have been designated by the government as "national treasures" - a title given to old buildings, paintings and other cultural properties of historical and artistic significance that are protected and preserved by the state.

"I went there this morning and saw the temple turned into ashes. I felt really empty. Life is so fleeting," Doryun, a monk who has lived at the temple for more than three years, told the AP .

Doryun, who works for a Buddhist organization in charge of the temple, said monks and devotees were able to move the temple’s third “treasure,” a stone Buddha statue carved in the 8th century, to a safe place.

“Many buildings were burned down, but we moved and protected other sacred properties so we could maintain the temple. We feel very lucky,” Doryun told the AP by phone.

Doryun also said there were about 20 monks and others living in the temple and no one was injured.

Nhiều di sản văn hóa bị tiêu hủy do cháy rừng ở Hàn Quốc- Ảnh 3. — A broken bell was found at Gounsa Temple.

The Korea Heritage Administration said two other cultural assets of the temple, including a stone pagoda, were found intact.

Smoke from the wildfires is also blanketing Hahoe, a traditional village in Andong and a UNESCO world heritage site.

South Korean firefighters reported that forest fires broke out again in the southeastern part of the country on the night of March 28. Several firefighting helicopters were urgently deployed to extinguish the fires.

According to the Korea Heritage Administration, 30 cultural heritage sites were affected by the forest fire disaster, including 11 national heritage sites and 16 city or provincial heritage sites.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhieu-di-san-van-hoa-bi-tieu-huy-do-chay-rung-o-han-quoc-185250329195105952.htm