Namdaemun Gate

Namdaemun, the "Great Southern Gate," was originally one of the four main gates of the old city wall in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Its official title is Sungnyemun, meaning "Gate of Exalted Ceremonies." The gate was the the southern end of the wall that surrounded the capital from 1392-1910, during the Josean Dynasty, and the entrance to the Namdaemun Market. The oldest wooden structure in Seoul, it had originally been used to greet foreign emissaries, control access to the capital city, and keep Korean tigers from entering the city.

The Namdaemun Gate was destroyed by Arson|arson on February 10, 2008. Chae Jong-gi, 69, admitted to starting the fire.

The Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea has projected that it will cost approximately $21 million to rebuild the gate. President Lee Myung-bak has proposed starting a private donation campaign to finance its restoration.

• Wikipedia: Namdaemun
• Yahoo! Travel: Namdaemun (South Gate)

• Google News: Namdaemun Gate
• Yahoo! News: S Korean convicted for ancient gate fire (April 24, 2008)
• Time: Can Korea Protect Its Historical Sites? (February 13, 2008)
• International Herald Tribune: "Man Admits Setting Fire..." (February 12, 2008)
• The Jakarta Post: S. Korea's Centuries-old Gate Collapses in Fire (February 11, 2008)
  • Authorities are looking for a man who approached the gate with a shopping bag immediately before the blaze broke out.
• Korea Times: "Mysterious Energy Linked to Blaze" (February 11, 2008)
• Swissinfo: Fire Destroys Seoul's Ancient City Gate (February 11, 2008)
  • An onlooker said, "It feels like the pride of the nation and hope is lost and crumbled..."
• CNN.com: S. Korean Landmark Collapses in Fire (February 11, 2008)
• Korea Times: "Arson Suspected in Namdaemun Fire" (February 10, 2008)