The drama 'Mr. Sunshine' featured the place where Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-ri went to meet Kim Gap-soo: the Manghyujeong Pavilion in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, which was not burned down in the wildfire. This is thanks to the fire-retardant cover placed over it just before the flames spread.
The Korea Heritage Service noted on the 26th, "As a result of confirming the Manghyujeong area, which was initially reported to be lost, it has been determined that it did not suffer wildfire damage." The only damage was some pine trees that were scorched. The plum tree next to Manghyujeong, which had bloomed, also miraculously escaped the flames.
Earlier, Manghyujeong was presumed to have been lost after staff responding to the wildfire withdrew the previous day as the fire intensified. However, thanks to over 40 personnel from the Andong City, North Gyeongsang North Care Center, and the fire station covering the pillars and lower sections with fire-retardant material and spraying water on the nearby Manghyujeong Wonlim Corporation, it was not burned down. The surrounding area of Manghyujeong did suffer wildfire damage.
Manghyujeong is a pavilion building constructed by the Confucian scholar Kim Gye-haeng (1431-1517) during the Joseon Dynasty. It is designated as a cultural heritage material in North Gyeongsang Province, harmonizing with the surrounding nature. In 2011, it was also designated as a scenic area, 'Andong Manghyujeong Wonlim Corporation,' along with the valleys and waterfalls around the pavilion.
Due to the wildfire, only 9 out of the 30 buildings of the Uiseong Gounsa Temple remained intact, while the treasures Yeonsujeon and Gaunru were completely burned down. Cultural heritage items in possession, including Treasure No. 246, the stone seated Buddha statue, were moved to various locations in North Gyeongsang Province to escape the flames.
Yeonsujeon was designated as a treasure in 2020. It is a building constructed in 1904 to commemorate Crown Prince Gojong entering the Elderly Office (耆老所) in 1902. The Elderly Office was established to honor officials over 70 years old, and the king enters it after turning 60. Yeonsujeon also retains iconography symbolizing the Imperial House of Korea.
The situation appears similar for Gaunru, which was built across the valley. Gaunru is estimated to have been constructed in 1668, with a size of 5 bays on the front and 2 bays on the side. It is well-known as a unique temple pavilion that preserves the architectural style prevalent during the mid to late Joseon period. It was lost 8 months after being designated as a treasure last July.
According to the Korea Heritage Service, as of 1 a.m. on this day, 8 national heritages, including Uiseong Gounsa's Yeonsujeon and Gaunru, were damaged in this wildfire. The nationally designated scenic area Baekunsan Chiljokryeong in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, was completely lost over an area of 5,000 square meters, and parts of the ginkgo tree in Hadong Douyangri, a cultural monument in South Gyeongsang Province, were also lost. In South Gyeongsang Province, the cultural heritage material Hadong Dubangjae lost two auxiliary buildings completely.
The national natural monument Mudeok Evergreen Forest in Uljin, Ulsan, suffered plant losses including herbaceous plants and shrubs over an area of 1,000 square meters. Cheongsong Manseru, a cultural heritage item in North Gyeongsang Province, was completely burned down. The cultural heritage site Unhwa-ri Fortress in Ulsan Metropolitan City is currently assessing the extent of the damage.