Minsuk KimPost‐Doctoral Fellow,

Research Center for Disaster Mitigation of Urban Cultural Heritage,Ritsumeikan University

20 : 47, 1020 : 47, 10thth Feb. 2008Feb. 2008

Do you remember this terrible

fire?

Sungnyemun gateSungnyemun gate

Lessons from 2008 Sungnyemun Fire• Lack of the Firefighters’ understanding on the structure of the historic wooden buildings

• Lack of the communication between Firefighters and Cultural Heritage Experts

• To keep the value of cultural properties on-going Fire fighting and/or recovery works

• To make the database of past disasters’ history in Korean Cultural Property buildings & To investigate the assessment of the value of Disaster-affected Cultural Properties

• To examine how to keep the value of Cultural Properties

• To clarify vulnerability of roof structure （ frequently repaired and/or replaced）, such as materials, originality, etc.

Purpose of this Research

Historic Buildings damaged by Fire★ Annulment of Korean Cultural Properties Designation

1984, Main Hall of Ssangbongsa Temple ★1984, Daejangjeon hall of Yongmunsa Temple ★

1986, Dajeokgwanjeon hall of Geumsansa Temple ★1997, Main Hall of Gimyongsa Temple

2005, Naksansa Temple ★

2008, Sungnyemun Gate, Seoul2008, Changdeokgung Palace

2003, Main Hall of Guryonsa Temple ★

19901980 2000

2009, Hyangilam Temple2010, Beonnam Dwelling, Hahoe Village

2007, Seojangdae pavilion, Suwon Fortress2007, Munjeongjeon, Changgyungung Palace

1998, Seongakwangsabi monumentof Hoeamsa Temple

2010

Urgent Repair Works for Cultural Properties

Costs

List of Annulment of Cultural Property Buildings designation damaged by disasters

What’s the valueof cultural property buildings?

Key points:

What kind of disasters…?How much damage…?

.

.

.

Can we recovery or rebuild it? How do we recovery?

Does the cultural property have/ maintain its own value or not?

The annulment of designation is under the provision of paragraph 1 of Article 29 of the Japanese Law as follows:

“In case a national treasure or an important cultural property has lost its value as such or in case there is any other special reason, the Minister of Education may annul the designation of such National Treasure or Important Cultural Property.”

How do we maintain the value of historic building after disaster?

Figure of fire spread in Sungnyemun gate, 2008

Similar example of roof structure in Sungnyemun gate

How do we maintain the value of historic building after disaster?

Interior members

Roofs members frequently repaired / replaced parts,damaged by rains, snows, typhoon, etc

Platform damaged by land subsidence, tremor

Surface members affected by surrounding environment, damaged by air pollution

How do we maintain the value of historic building after disaster?

How do we maintain the value of historic building after disaster?

Known as the “World Heritage Convention,” this agreement considers “authenticity” and “integrity” when appraising World Heritage sites.

Disaster‐affected Building 

Cultural Property Building 

lost value? or not?

How many original members and materials are remained? And how can we remain it?

How do we maintain the value of historic building after disaster?

This research was supported by International Training Program adopted by the JSPS (Japan society for the Promotion of Science).

Thank you very muchfor your 

attention.Sincere Thanks go to:• Prof. Sanghae LEE （Director of  ICOMOS KOREA）• Ms. Kyunghee KIM （Staff of ICOMOS KOREA Secretariat）• Prof. Kenzo TOKI （Director of Ritsumeikan University, Japan）• Prof. Hidehiko KANEGAE（Ritsumeikan University, Japan）• Prof. Kanefusa MASUDA（Ritsumeikan University, Japan）• Prof. Takeyuki OKUBO（Ritsumeikan University, Japan）• Dr. Takumi NAKAMURA（Ritsumeikan University, Japan）• All the staffs of Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, All members of ICOMOS KOREA• All of ITP Committee Members and Administrative Officers of Ritsumeikan Univeristy