Unprecedented wildfires ripping through South Korea’s southern regions have destroyed most of the ancient Buddhist temple complex and burned two buildings designated as national treasures.
The five-day wildfire, considered one of South Korea’s worst, killed 24 people, destroyed more than 300 structures and forced more than 28,000 residents to be evacuated, officials said.
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The Goonsa Temple is said to have been originally built in 681 AD during the Sira dynasty, which ruled more than half of the Korean Peninsula. It is located at the foot of Mount Dungun, a town in the southeastern town. Although it does not house buildings built during its ancient times, it is home to several famous cultural heritage sites that were later built.
The temple was engulfed in flames on Tuesday as strong winds incited wildfires. About 20 of 30 buildings and structures have been completely burned out, including the respected gowns, a pavilion-style structure built in 1668, built in 1668, according to the state-run Korean Heritage Service.
On Wednesday, bells are seen breaking at the ruins of Bel Pavilion due to a wildfire at Goonsa Temple in Uyseng, South Korea. (via Kim do-hoon/yonhap)
Both were built during the last dynasty of the Korean Peninsula and are given government designations of “treasures” given to historically and artistically important old buildings, paintings and other cultural assets, and are subject to state-level protection and maintenance.
“I went there this morning and found them shrinking into a pile of ashes,” said Doryun, an elderly monk who lived in the temple for over three years when he was young. “I really feel empty. Life is temporary.”
Doryun currently works for the Buddhist organization in charge of the temple. He said that the monks and Buddhist faithful moved the third “treasure” of the temple, a stone Buddha statue reportedly built in the 8th century, to a safe location.
“Many buildings have burned out, but we have moved and protected other sacred assets to keep the temple up, and we feel very fortunate,” Doryan told the Associated Press over the phone.
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Dryn also said that around 20 monks and other workers live in the temple, but none were injured.
The Korean Heritage Service also states that it includes two other two low-level cultural assets of the temple, the stone tower.
