8 artifacts relocated to National Palace Museum in wake of Jogyesa fire
One designated cultural heritage, seven nondesignated artifacts moved in precautionary measure prompted by fire
Some eight Buddhist artifacts at the Central Buddhist Museum building next to the temple Jogyesa in central Seoul have been moved to the nearby National Palace Museum of Korea in a precautionary measure prompted after a fire broke out.
According to the Korea Heritage Service, eight artifacts requiring urgent relocation were transferred to the National Palace Museum of Korea for assessment and will be temporarily stored at the state museum located inside the main palace Gyeongbokgung. The artifacts include one designated cultural heritage item and seven nondesignated artifacts that were on open display at a special exhibition at the Central Buddhist Museum.
The agency added that a decision on relocating the remaining 25 items is to be made later, depending on the situation.
The precaution comes after a fire broke out at the international conference hall on the second floor of the Buddhist History and Culture Hall at 10:22 a.m., causing some 300 people to evacuate, according to fire authorities and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The fire was extinguished at 11:57 a.m.
At the time of the fire, the Central Buddhist Museum was hosting an exhibition titled "Hoseon Euigyeom: The Buddha Revealed at the Tip of the Brush." The special exhibition, which opened April 9, had on display cultural heritage items collected from temples across the country.
Thirty-three items were on display, including nine state-designated National Treasures, such as the "Yeongsanhwesangdo" and "Palsando" paintings from Songgwangsa, a Buddhist temple in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, and nine state-designated Treasures, including an 18th-century Buddhist painting from Heungguksa in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. The pieces were placed inside glass cases, protecting them from physical harm, dust and environmental damage.
"We sincerely apologize for causing concern to the Buddhist community and the public due to the sudden fire. We will promptly address the situation and take swift action to ensure public safety," the largest Buddhist sect in Korea said in a statement.
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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
33 artifacts relocated to National Palace Museum after Tuesday's blaze at Jogyesa complex
Central Buddhist Museum exhibition ends early in wake of fire Thirty-three Buddhist artifacts displayed at the Central Buddhist Museum next to Jogyesa, a Buddhist temple in central Seoul, were relocated to the nearby National Palace Museum of Korea late Tuesday, after a blaze broke out at a building within the temple complex earlier that day. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism on Wednesday issued a statement confirming that it had safely moved 33 artifacts that were on display at the museum in a preventative measure prompted by the fire. The relocated items include nine state-designated National Treasures, nine state-designated Treasures, two Regional Tangible Cultural Heritage and 13 nondesignated artifacts. No damage was reported or found to the artifacts, it added. Other artifacts held at a storage facility located at the museum's third basement level were not part of the transfer. The decision to keep them at the storage facility came after a safety check, a senior official at the largest Buddhist sect in Korea told The Korea Herald. A fire broke out at the international conference hall on the second floor of the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall next to the temple at 10:22 a.m. The Central Buddhist Museum is on the basement level of a building connected to the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall. The fire was extinguished at 11:57 a.m. Following the fire, an exhibition titled "Hoseon Euigyeom: The Buddha Revealed at the Tip of the Brush" at the museum, originally scheduled to run through June 29, ended Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Ven. Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order, apologized for the lack of safety measures and for causing concern to the public.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
8 artifacts relocated to National Palace Museum in wake of Jogyesa fire
One designated cultural heritage, seven nondesignated artifacts moved in precautionary measure prompted by fire Some eight Buddhist artifacts at the Central Buddhist Museum building next to the temple Jogyesa in central Seoul have been moved to the nearby National Palace Museum of Korea in a precautionary measure prompted after a fire broke out. According to the Korea Heritage Service, eight artifacts requiring urgent relocation were transferred to the National Palace Museum of Korea for assessment and will be temporarily stored at the state museum located inside the main palace Gyeongbokgung. The artifacts include one designated cultural heritage item and seven nondesignated artifacts that were on open display at a special exhibition at the Central Buddhist Museum. The agency added that a decision on relocating the remaining 25 items is to be made later, depending on the situation. The precaution comes after a fire broke out at the international conference hall on the second floor of the Buddhist History and Culture Hall at 10:22 a.m., causing some 300 people to evacuate, according to fire authorities and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The fire was extinguished at 11:57 a.m. At the time of the fire, the Central Buddhist Museum was hosting an exhibition titled "Hoseon Euigyeom: The Buddha Revealed at the Tip of the Brush." The special exhibition, which opened April 9, had on display cultural heritage items collected from temples across the country. Thirty-three items were on display, including nine state-designated National Treasures, such as the "Yeongsanhwesangdo" and "Palsando" paintings from Songgwangsa, a Buddhist temple in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, and nine state-designated Treasures, including an 18th-century Buddhist painting from Heungguksa in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. The pieces were placed inside glass cases, protecting them from physical harm, dust and environmental damage. "We sincerely apologize for causing concern to the Buddhist community and the public due to the sudden fire. We will promptly address the situation and take swift action to ensure public safety," the largest Buddhist sect in Korea said in a statement.
Korea Herald
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Exhibition focuses on early Joseon art
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