Arsonist burns down 600+ y.o. national landmark in Seoul

[glenn1]

WTF?

Wiki article on the landmark

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A 69-year-old who was previously convicted of torching a palace has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed Namdaemun, South Korea's oldest wooden structure and a national treasure, authorities said on Tuesday.


Police searched the home of Chae's ex-wife and found a can of paint thinner and a pair of leather gloves they believe were used in the fire, Kim said.

Chae confessed to starting the fire, saying he was upset by a land grievance that led him to start the 2006 fire and by the sentence he was handed in that case, Kim said.

Namdaemun was more than 600 years old and stood at the center of Seoul, having served as a main gate into the capital for centuries. The gate was considered a national symbol to Koreans around the world. E-mail to a friend

 

[Howard]

Well, that sucks. Fortunately nobody was hurt.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Originally posted by: glenn1
WTF?

Wiki article on the landmark

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A 69-year-old who was previously convicted of torching a palace has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed Namdaemun, South Korea's oldest wooden structure and a national treasure, authorities said on Tuesday.


Police searched the home of Chae's ex-wife and found a can of paint thinner and a pair of leather gloves they believe were used in the fire, Kim said.

Chae confessed to starting the fire, saying he was upset by a land grievance that led him to start the 2006 fire and by the sentence he was handed in that case, Kim said.

Namdaemun was more than 600 years old and stood at the center of Seoul, having served as a main gate into the capital for centuries. The gate was considered a national symbol to Koreans around the world. E-mail to a friend

Just because he had motive and the police find a pair soiled gloves on his property doesn't mean he's guiltly. I'd like the prosecutor to have him try on the gloves and see if they fit, which I doubt.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ

Originally posted by: glenn1
WTF?

Wiki article on the landmark

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A 69-year-old who was previously convicted of torching a palace has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed Namdaemun, South Korea's oldest wooden structure and a national treasure, authorities said on Tuesday.


Police searched the home of Chae's ex-wife and found a can of paint thinner and a pair of leather gloves they believe were used in the fire, Kim said.

Chae confessed to starting the fire, saying he was upset by a land grievance that led him to start the 2006 fire and by the sentence he was handed in that case, Kim said.

Namdaemun was more than 600 years old and stood at the center of Seoul, having served as a main gate into the capital for centuries. The gate was considered a national symbol to Koreans around the world. E-mail to a friend

Just because he had motive and the police find a pair soiled gloves on his property doesn't mean he's guiltly. I'd like the prosecutor to have him try on the gloves and see if they fit, which I doubt.

He has a previous history of arson as well

 

[ISAslot]

 

[Apex]

Wow, I was just there not too long ago. Hard to believe it's gone.

 

[larciel]

I wonder what'd happen if a man, who was pissed off by recent recession, goes to NY and blows up the Statue of Liberty. That is what that man basically did.

 

[dethman]

before:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I...daemun-at.night-01.jpg
after:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I...aemun_2008_fire-01.jpg

 

[chuckywang]

That sucks .... hopefully they rebuild it.

 

[Snapster]

I took a few photos of that when I was in Seoul in November last year :shocked:

 

[Epic Fail]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
That sucks .... hopefully they rebuild it.

They will, they raised 1 billion won already.

 

[Sylvanas]

Thats terrible for the people of Seoul, heres hoping they rebuild it....but it's never going to be like the original again.

 

[beat mania]

Why wasn't it fenced off in the first place?

 

[sygyzy]

Man that is unbelievable. A real tragedy

 

[larciel]

Originally posted by: beat mania
Why wasn't it fenced off in the first place?

they opened it for people to see it upclose

 

[beat mania]

Originally posted by: larciel

Originally posted by: beat mania
Why wasn't it fenced off in the first place?

they opened it for people to see it upclose

Well they would've considered it possible to lose it in a fire then. If not arson, then by accident, such as a cigarette.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

man I was there not too long ago too. ah well, that royally sucks. my dad was pretty pissed off at this news as well

 

[Kadarin]

That guy deliberately destroyed a piece of history and a national treasure. It's a shame they probably won't execute him for doing it.

 

[ISAslot]

I wonder why they didn't put a sprinkler system in it. Perhaps the rebuilt one will have one.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ

Originally posted by: glenn1
WTF?

Wiki article on the landmark

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A 69-year-old who was previously convicted of torching a palace has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed Namdaemun, South Korea's oldest wooden structure and a national treasure, authorities said on Tuesday.


Police searched the home of Chae's ex-wife and found a can of paint thinner and a pair of leather gloves they believe were used in the fire, Kim said.

Chae confessed to starting the fire, saying he was upset by a land grievance that led him to start the 2006 fire and by the sentence he was handed in that case, Kim said.

Namdaemun was more than 600 years old and stood at the center of Seoul, having served as a main gate into the capital for centuries. The gate was considered a national symbol to Koreans around the world. E-mail to a friend

Just because he had motive and the police find a pair soiled gloves on his property doesn't mean he's guiltly. I'd like the prosecutor to have him try on the gloves and see if they fit, which I doubt.

Originally posted by: glenn1
WTF?

Wiki article on the landmark

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A 69-year-old who was previously convicted of torching a palace has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed Namdaemun, South Korea's oldest wooden structure and a national treasure, authorities said on Tuesday.


Police searched the home of Chae's ex-wife and found a can of paint thinner and a pair of leather gloves they believe were used in the fire, Kim said.

Chae confessed to starting the fire, saying he was upset by a land grievance that led him to start the 2006 fire and by the sentence he was handed in that case, Kim said.

Namdaemun was more than 600 years old and stood at the center of Seoul, having served as a main gate into the capital for centuries. The gate was considered a national symbol to Koreans around the world. E-mail to a friend

Just because he had motive and said he did it doesn't mean he's guilty. I'd like the prosecutor to have him take a lie detector test to see if he's telling the truth, which I doubt.

 

[Juno]

nooooooo why!!!!!!!!

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: dethman
before:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I...daemun-at.night-01.jpg
after:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I...aemun_2008_fire-01.jpg

I would guess that a paint thinner fueled fire would spread pretty quick, but damn! Looks to be a very public place, not too many cops patrolling the area?

 

[CptObvious]

It is a very public place. Not too far from the busiest train station in Korea. I was surprised that there was no security around it at the time.

 

[Farang]

This is tragic and whatnot.. but what a photo!

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Kadarin
That guy deliberately destroyed a piece of history and a national treasure. It's a shame they probably won't execute him for doing it.

That is a shame