A fire broke out at a Buddhist cultural center near Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea. The blaze sent dark smoke billowing into the air.
On June 10, 2023, Yonhap News Agency reported the fire at the Memorial Hall of Buddhist Culture and History of Korean Buddhism. It’s close to the Daeungjeon Hall inside Jogyesa Temple, the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Firefighters took around 90 minutes to bring the fire under control. No one was hurt or killed.
The Seoul Metropolitan Fire Department said the fire started in a conference room on the second floor. It was near the Daeungjeon Hall. People inside the building quickly evacuated when the fire broke out. The flames spread fast, with thick black smoke filling the area. Firefighters and equipment were rushed to the scene. They started controlling the flames at 11:36 am and put them out by 11:57 am.
Luckily, the fire didn’t spread to the Central Buddhist Museum. It has over 20 cultural treasures on display, including national treasures.
The Jongno District Office warned people to avoid the area around the fire. They closed off Ujeongguk-ro Road from Anguk Intersection to the front of Daeungjeon Hall starting at 10:36 am. Now, officials are investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the damage.