Unprecedented wildfires ripping through South Korea’s southern regions have destroyed large parts of an ancient Buddhist temple, ruining two of its three state-designated “treasures.”
Five days of wildfires, considered one of South Korea’s worst, have left 24 people dead, destroyed more than 200 structures and forced 27,000 people to evacuate, officials said Wednesday.
The Gounsa temple was reportedly built in the 7th century during the Shilla dynasty that ruled the area and other parts of the Korean Peninsula at the time. It is nestled at the foot of Deungun Mountain in the southeastern town of Uiseong. While it doesn’t house buildings constructed in the ancient period, it is home to several famous cultural heritages built later.
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