Dear editor,
It is with great sadness that I heard of the fire at Namdaemun in central Seoul. It is a shame that such a treasure has become the victim of an act of human vanity.
I feel compelled to share this thought. If one is to protect something, be it a piece of art, a building or a way of life, one has to protect the culture that created it.
I hope this loss will be seen, through the proper restoration of Namdaemun, also known as Sungnyemun, as an opportunity to invest in the culture and craft which created this world treasure.
That culture and craft which is so quickly being displaced by the trappings of the modern world.
Edward Jackson
Guelph, Ontario, Canada