Fire Destroys Revered South Korean Landmark

Centuries-old gate in Seoul was considered country's top national treasure

Built in 1398, destroyed by fire in 11 Feb.2008

SEOUL, South Korea - An overnight fire destroyed one of Seoul's great landmarks, the centuries-old wooden structure that topped the Namdaemun gate and was deemed South Korea's No. 1 national treasure, a police official said Monday.

Police did not yet determine the cause of the fire, said Sohn Young-jin, a police official handling the case. He did not give further details.

The fire broke out Sunday night and burnt down the wooden structure at the top of the 610-year-old Namdaemun gate that once formed part of a wall that encircled the capital.

The two-tiered wooden structure was renovated in the 1960s, when it was declared South Korea's top national treasure, and again in 2005. The government opened the gate, officially known as Sungnyemun, to the public in 2006 for the first time in nearly a century.

The gate had been off-limits to the public since Japanese colonial authorities built an electric tramway near the gate in 1907. Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula in 1910-45.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23101503/

Accessed Date: 11/02/08