Before and after: South Korea’s wildfires turn centuries-old Buddhist temple into ashes

Record ID: 1986205

  • Title: Before and after: South Korea’s wildfires turn centuries-old Buddhist temple into ashes
  • Date: 28th March 2025
  • Summary: BERGISCH GLADBACH, GERMANY (MARCH 27, 2025) (REUTERS) STEFAN BRATZEL, HEAD OF CENTER OF AUTOMOTIVE MANAGEMENT (CAM) DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (German) STEFAN BRATZEL, HEAD OF CENTER OF AUTOMOTIVE MANAGEMENT (CAM), SAYING: "The automotive industry in Germany will suffer considerably from the tariffs that have now been passed. The fact is that around 450,000 vehicles are
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  • Keywords: Gounsa South Korea before and after fire national treasures temple wildfires
  • Location: UISEONG, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: UISEONG, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Disaster/Accidents,Fires
  • Reuters ID: LVA002227028032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A historic temple in South Korea built over a thousand years ago now lies in charred, black ruins, a haunting contrast to the vibrant colours that typically adorned the country's historic palaces and Buddhist temples.
    Many of the buildings at the Gounsa temple complex, first built by monks in the year 681, burnt to the ground this week as South Korea's largest wildfire ever swept through forests and towns, killing at least 28 people and destroying or damaging priceless cultural sites.
    Amidst the devastation, a majestic bronze bell, cracked from top to bottom, lay in the smouldering ruins of its tower, a poignant reminder of the destruction. Two out of the three national treasures at the site burned, while a handful of other structures escaped the blaze.
    Gounsa was one of at least 18 designated heritage sites or objects, including two national treasures, that had been destroyed or damaged by the wildfires, according to the Korea Heritage Service.
    Throughout Korea's history, fire has posed one of the greatest threats to its traditional wooden structures, and many of the temple halls had bronze bowls of water placed outside to warn of the danger of flames.
    Parts of Gounsa itself have burned before, most recently in 1975, before a major restoration in 1992. But the scale of the latest destruction left residents in disbelief.
    (Production: Nicoco Chan, Hyunyoung Yi)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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