Trash-burning fire burns part of wall at North Jeolla monument in Gimje
In short
A fire believed to have started while trash was being burned spread toward Namgangjeongsa, a North Jeolla provincial monument in Gimje, burning part of its wall before firefighters put it out. The Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters said the fire did not reach the building's main structure and was extinguished in about 20 minutes. A later report citing News1 said about 15 metres of wall burned, pine trees were partly scorched and damage was estimated at 2.53 million won, with the exact cause still under investigation.
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A fire reported at about 14:24 on Oct. 5 near a house in Geumgu-myeon, Gimje, in North Jeolla Province is believed to have started while trash was being burned, according to the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters. The fire moved toward Namgangjeongsa, a North Jeolla provincial monument, burned part of its wall and was put out by fire authorities in about 20 minutes, Yonhap reported. Dong-A Ilbo, citing News1, said the fire broke out on the Namgangjeongsa wall in Seodo-ri, Geumgu-myeon. [ 1 , 3 ]
“The fire did not spread to the main body of Namgangjeongsa and burned only part of the wall,” a Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters official said, adding that “the exact cause of the fire is under investigation.” [ 1 ]
Dong-A Ilbo's summary gave further detail, saying 15 metres of the wall burned and pine trees were partly scorched, with damage estimated by the fire station at 2.53 million won. It said police and fire authorities believe the fire began during trash burning at a house near Namgangjeongsa and are investigating the precise cause. [ 3 ]
Namgangjeongsa is North Jeolla provincial monument No. 64, the house where Jang Taesu (1841–1910), described as a loyalist of the late Joseon period, died for the country, and a heritage site that shows an aspect of disappearing local thatched houses, the reports said. [ 1 , 3 ]
Korea Economic Daily carried the event in its headline — that a trash-burning fire nearly burned the North Jeolla provincial monument and that only part of the wall burned — without further detail on the incident in its feed text. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The fire caused limited damage to a registered provincial monument, a late-Joseon-era house associated with loyalist Jang Taesu, and did not reach its main structure. As reported, it points to the risk that burning trash near protected heritage sites can pose to local monuments. Police and fire authorities said the cause is still being investigated.
Key facts
- A fire was reported at about 14:24 on Oct. 5 near a house in Geumgu-myeon, Gimje, North Jeolla Province. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The fire is believed to have started and grown while trash was being burned. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The fire spread toward Namgangjeongsa, a North Jeolla provincial monument, and burned part of its wall, but did not reach its main structure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Fire authorities put the fire out in about 20 minutes, according to the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters. [ 1 ]
- About 15 metres of the wall burned and pine trees were partly scorched, with damage estimated at 2.53 million won, according to the fire station estimate reported by Dong-A Ilbo. [ 3 ]
- Namgangjeongsa is North Jeolla provincial monument No. 64 and the house where loyalist Jang Taesu (1841–1910) died for the country, described as showing an aspect of disappearing local thatched houses. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause, saying they believe it began during trash burning at a house near Namgangjeongsa. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A fire believed to have started during trash burning burned part of the wall of Namgangjeongsa, a North Jeolla provincial monument, and did not reach its main structure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The fire was reported at about 14:24 on Oct. 5 near a house in Geumgu-myeon, Gimje, North Jeolla Province. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Namgangjeongsa is a North Jeolla provincial monument and the house where loyalist Jang Taesu (1841–1910) died for the country. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The exact cause of the fire. The Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters said the cause is under investigation, and Dong-A Ilbo reported that police and fire authorities believe it began during trash burning but are still checking the precise cause.
- The full extent of the damage, including the 15-metre wall figure, the scorched pine trees and the 2.53 million won damage estimate. These figures appear only in Dong-A Ilbo's summary citing News1; the other documents describe only that part of the wall burned.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A report is received of a fire near a house in Geumgu-myeon, Gimje, North Jeolla Province. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The fire, which had spread toward Namgangjeongsa, is extinguished by fire authorities after about 20 minutes, with only part of the monument's wall burned. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report citing the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters. [ 1 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes its report. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo publishes a summary citing News1 with damage details and the monument's registration number. [ 3 ]