A fire at Gyeongbokgung Palace — one of South Korea’s most iconic cultural landmarks — charred parts of a pillar and a gate.
According to the Cultural Heritage Administration, the blaze began at about 5:35 a.m. on the 28th near a side gate by the Sambimun (三備門) in front of Jaseondang at Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
A security officer on patrol spotted smoke and used a fire extinguisher and a hydrant to extinguish the flames by roughly 5:50 a.m., about 15 minutes later.
The officer prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent structures, but one auxiliary pillar at the side gate and part of the shinbangmok (信枋木 — a horizontal timber fitted at the base of a doorpost or pillar) were burned and scorched.
No injuries were reported.
After a joint on-site investigation with fire authorities, the Cultural Heritage Administration said investigators currently regard natural ignition as the most likely cause.
Authorities found no one at the scene and no cigarette butts or other flammable materials.
Nonetheless, the exact ignition point and the specific cause have not yet been determined.
The Gyeongbokgung Management Office erected barriers around the Sambimun area and restricted visitor access around 9 a.m., when the palace typically opens.
In response to the incident, the Cultural Heritage Administration has urged local governments to heighten fire-prevention measures at national heritage sites.
Heo Min, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, said, "We will operate the disaster safety control room around the clock and work to safeguard our national heritage sites."
