Restoration of ancient Seoul gate begins two years after destruction

By Kim Nam-hee
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) - Restoration work on an ancient gate in Seoul,
designated the country's number one national treasure, began in earnest on
Wednesday, two years after it was destroyed in an arson attack.

The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea held an on-site groundbreaking
ceremony marking the start of restoration work on Sungnyemun, one of the
country's oldest wooden structures, and the second anniversary of the gate's
destruction.
Yi Kun-moo, head of the heritage administration, and Rep. Chung Byeong-heon were
present at the ceremony, alongside master artisans brought in to work on the
project, including carpenter Shin Eung-soo, and individuals who donated pine
trees for the reconstruction.
"We've wrapped up preparatory work to restore the gate to its original shape, and
its reconstruction begins today," said Yi.
"Sungnyemun is taking its first step to heal the wounds from the fire two years
ago through today's ceremony," he added.
The 14th-century wooden structure sat atop a stone base and served as the
southern entrance to the capital city during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In
recent years the edifice found itself at the center of a large intersection
surrounded by skyscrapers on one side and the crowded Namdaemun market on the
other.
The gate was set ablaze in Feb. 2008 by a 70-year-old man angered by a land
compensation deal with developers.
The gate restoration project is to be completed by the end of 2012.
kimnh@yna.co.kr
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