By Kim Jae-heun
After a powerful earthquake of 5.4 magnitude hit the country, Wednesday, attention has been drawn to damage-prone cultural assets in the vicinity.
Two out of 10 national treasures and architectural sites have been found in need of repair or restoration according to the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (NRICH), the Cultural Heritage Administration said, Friday.
NRICH examined 242 cases of 751 national treasures and architectural sites from February to December last year. The organization classified them in alphabetic order from A to F to distinguish them as "satisfactory," "minor repairs," "needs close observation," "precision diagnosis needed" or "needs immediate work."
Last year, 149 cases, more than half of them involving cultural assets, have been confirmed decrepit or damaged but they received C level, indicating need for constant observation. Forty-six cases have been confirmed to be preserved in good condition and received A or B. Forty-seven cases received D to F, meaning they need at least close observation or immediate restoration.
The four architectural properties including Daeungjeon Hall in Mihwang Temple, the Five-Storied Stone Pagoda and Seven-Storied Stone Pagoda of Cheongnyangsaji Temple Site received grades of F, needing immediate repair.
Among 28 cultural assets subject to investigation in Gyeongju and Pohang, where the earthquake hit hardest, five cases got either D or E. Wonwonsaji East and West Three-storied Stone Pagoda situated in Gyeongju has been assigned D due last year's earthquake that shook the cultural asset and damages the treasure. Four other heritage sites in the region received E grades, suggesting they need moss removal and crack repair.
After a powerful earthquake of 5.4 magnitude hit the country, Wednesday, attention has been drawn to damage-prone cultural assets in the vicinity.
Two out of 10 national treasures and architectural sites have been found in need of repair or restoration according to the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (NRICH), the Cultural Heritage Administration said, Friday.
NRICH examined 242 cases of 751 national treasures and architectural sites from February to December last year. The organization classified them in alphabetic order from A to F to distinguish them as "satisfactory," "minor repairs," "needs close observation," "precision diagnosis needed" or "needs immediate work."
Last year, 149 cases, more than half of them involving cultural assets, have been confirmed decrepit or damaged but they received C level, indicating need for constant observation. Forty-six cases have been confirmed to be preserved in good condition and received A or B. Forty-seven cases received D to F, meaning they need at least close observation or immediate restoration.
The four architectural properties including Daeungjeon Hall in Mihwang Temple, the Five-Storied Stone Pagoda and Seven-Storied Stone Pagoda of Cheongnyangsaji Temple Site received grades of F, needing immediate repair.
Among 28 cultural assets subject to investigation in Gyeongju and Pohang, where the earthquake hit hardest, five cases got either D or E. Wonwonsaji East and West Three-storied Stone Pagoda situated in Gyeongju has been assigned D due last year's earthquake that shook the cultural asset and damages the treasure. Four other heritage sites in the region received E grades, suggesting they need moss removal and crack repair.
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