Supreme Court affirms 10-year sentence for man who burned historic gate

SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed a 10-year prison sentence for a 70-year-old man charged with setting fire to Namdaemun, a six-hundred year-old gate and the nation's No. 1 national treasure.

Chae Jong-gi was found guilty in a district court that highlighted how the crime
inflicted "indescribable mental pain on the Korean people" and caused the
"nation's fallen prestige."
At the end of the Lunar New Year holiday in February, Chae climbed a hill next to
the two-tiered wooden gate and poured paint thinner onto the second floor,
setting the structure ablaze with a cigarette lighter, police found.
Chae has pleaded guilty and sought leniency, saying his anger over a dispute with
government authorities involving a land compensation deal pushed him over the
edge. The 14th century landmark gate, a colorful wooden structure atop a stone
base, is officially called Sungnyemun, or "gate to revere decorum." It is more
commonly known, however, as Namdaemun, or "great southern gate."
The high court upheld Chae's 10-year-sentence in July. Prosecutors had sought 12
years in jail.
The plaintiff appealed, but the verdict was affirmed by the top court, which
called the lower courts' ruling "fair."
The crime prompted concerns over the safety of Korea's historic artifacts, many
of which are open to the public access because crimes like arson are rare here.
Public shock prompted the chief of the Cultural Heritage Administration, Yoo
Hong-jun, to resign.
The cultural agency plans to complete restoration by 2012 with pine timber
supplied from across the country.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)