▲ This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration, shows the damage in Anseong Gaeksa. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

▲ This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration shows the director of the Cultural Heritage Administration, Choi Eung-chon, visiting Donggureung, Guri-si, on Thursday afternoon and checking the status of facility management after heavy rain damage. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

SEOUL, August 12 (Yonhap) -- With the torrential rain pouring down on the central region for four continuous days, damage to the cultural properties has been made in various places.

According to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday, a total of 48 nationally-designated cultural properties suffered damage due to the heavy rain in the central region which came from August 8 until 5 p.m. that day.

Category wise, 44 historical sites, 2 natural monuments, 1 treasure and 1 nationally registered cultural property has been told to have been suffering from the rain.

By region, there were 27 cases in Gyeonggi, 19 cases in Seoul, 1 case in Gangwon and 1 case in Chungnam.

With the rainy season beginning in earnest on June 23, there have been a total of 87 cases of cultural property damage, of which 55.2% occurred within the last four days.

In the case of the confirmed additional damage, the Anseong Gaeksa Jeongcheong, which was designated as a treasure last year, was installed a temporary tent to prevent the rain as a part of the wall collapsed due to the rain.

While Anseong Gaeksa Jeongchong was built during the Goryeo Dynasty and was relocated twice after the Japanese colonial period, it is considered a building that retains the architectural characteristics of the late Goryeo period.

The Gongju Gongsanseong Fortress, which is included in the Baekje Historic Area, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had the fortress around jinnamru collapsed. The collapsed part reaches a length of 5 m and a height of 2 to 2.5m.

Currently, visitors are being restricted and emergency repair work is being prepared.

In Taerung and Gangneung in Seoul, along with Yeongneung and other places in Yeoju, had trees collapsing as well.

As the damage to cultural properties continued, the Director of the Cultural Heritage Administration, Choi Eung-chon visited Donggureung in Guri-si and Tomb of Queen Consort Yeongbin, Namyangju on the same day followed by the previous day, inspecting the damage and confirming its restoration work.

"Broken trees are cleaned on site, and minor issues such as damage to tiles and fences are taken care by the local government," said an official from the Cultural Heritage Administration. "We will do our best to prevent any further damage."

 

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)

 

 

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