Top US Navy Officer Expresses Sadness Over Namdaemun Fire
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The top U.S. Navy officer in South Korea expressed his deep sadness Thursday at the destruction of the landmark Sungnyemun, also known as Namdaemun, by arson late last month.
``The loss of the Republic of Korea's number one National Treasure is truly a heartbreaking event and one I am eternally sorry for,'' Rear Adm. Thomas S. Rowden, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, said in a letter sent to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Song Young-moo.
``It was a great tragedy to see this historic site be destroyed in less than five hours after withstanding numerous foreign invasions, years of Japanese occupation, and the devastation caused by the Korean War,'' Rowden said.
Along with the letter, the U.S. admiral sent a photo taken in April 1950 of Namdaemun with a placard welcoming the arrival of U.S. Naval forces in South Korea.
The placard in the picture reads in large block letters, ``Welcome U.S. Navy!''
From April 7-9 in 1950, USS Boxer (CV-21) aircraft carrier visited the port city of Incheon, west of Seoul.
The 27,000-ton aircraft carrier later participated in the 1950-53 Korean War to help South Korea repel the invasion of North Korea by backed China.
Rowden described the scene in the photo as a demonstration of a strong Korea-U.S. alliance.
``It clearly and loudly demonstrates the strong relationship between our two navies and the warm welcome we always receive in your great country,'' he said.
About 28,000 U.S. troops, including 300 naval forces, are stationed here as a deterrent against North Korea, which conducted its first-ever nuclear test in October 2006.
The ornate two-story wood building atop the six-century-old stone gate, the country's oldest wooden structure, collapsed Feb. 11 after a 70-year-old man set the gate on fire using paint thinner.
The suspect, identified only by his surname (Chae), was arrested days later and faces a maximum life sentence in prison if convicted.
The landmark was constructed in the early Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) during the reign of King Taejo in 1398 and was one of Seoul's eight main gates. It was rebuilt in 1447 and has undergone several renovations since then.
The restoration of Namdaemun will take at least three years and cost about $21.2 million, according to officials of the Cultural Heritage Administration.