A small fire occurred near Sambimun, the outer gate leading to Jaseondang Hall within Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, at approximately 5:35 a.m. The fire was quickly extinguished by a security guard on patrol around 5:50 a.m., according to the Korea Heritage Service (KHS).
Following the incident, fire authorities conducted a thorough on-site inspection. The KHS has indicated that spontaneous combustion is being considered as a possible cause.
Initial reports indicate no evidence of personnel or flammable materials were present at the fire’s origin.
Huh Min, the administrator of the KHS, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that a full investigation is currently underway to determine the precise cause of the fire at Gyeongbok Palace.
Administrator Huh pledged to maintain a 24/7 disaster response center to prevent similar incidents, especially during this dry season, ensuring the safety of Gyeongbok Palace and other historical sites.
Gyeongbok Palace, the largest of Seoul’s royal palaces, attracted approximately 6.9 million visitors last year. This figure represents 38.7% of all visitors to Seoul’s royal palaces and tombs, making it a premier tourist destination.
