Man admits he torched South Korea's most treasured landmark over land dispute

Source: AP

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -

The 69-year-old man, identified only by his family name, Chae, spoke briefly with reporters Tuesday while being escorted from police headquarters to the district office handling the case. I cannot say enough how sorry I am, to my children and the public,» said the suspect, wearing a white mask and hat in apparent attempts to hide his identity.

. . .

Police said the suspect had complained about a land dispute with a development company, saying that he did not get enough compensation from the developer for about 100 square meters (1,076 square feet) of his residential land in Gyeonggi province near Seoul.

. . .

The two-tiered wooden structure destroyed in this week's fire was renovated in the 1960s, when it was declared South Korea's top national treasure. The government built a plaza around the gate, officially known as Sungnyemun, in 2005 and opened it to the public the following year for the first time in nearly a century.

The Cultural Heritage Administration said it would take at least three years and some 20 billion won (US$21 million) to fully restore the gate.

Hundreds of South Koreans gathered near the badly charred structure Monday night, as several dozen police and workers stood by. «My heart is burning,» Lee Il-soo, a 56-year-old man who runs a small business, said as he fought back tears. He said the fire had destroyed the pride of South Korea.

Read more: http://www.pr-inside.com/man-admits-he-torched-south-korea-s-r433711.htm

What has been happening in China is that rural farms have been taken over by developers/companies with the previous owners being kicked off the land. Sometimes the poor farmers were given a few bucks, many times they were just run off without a penny.

This does not excuse this man for torching a historical monument. It just highlights that a lot of pent up anger and frustration is smoldering in the newly developing China.

It is the same story in South Korea as it is in China, but you are right I mis-typed. The takeover of land is happening in South Korea.

Sorry.

No, they would have used commercial jetliners to destroy the gate.