Fire breaks out at Garden in Seongbuk-dong on Monday. (Seongbuk-gu government)
Fire breaks out at Garden in Seongbuk-dong on Monday. (Seongbuk-gu government)

A fire broke out at the Garden in Seongbuk-dong, partially damaging the cultural heritage site in northern Seoul, authorities said Monday.

The Seoul fire department said the blaze, first reported at around 12:45 p.m., was brought under control at approximately 3:56 p.m. Firefighters dismantled portions of the burning roof to prevent the flames from spreading and to expedite extinguishing efforts.

A total of 29 fire vehicles and 112 personnel were dispatched to the scene.

Damages to the heritage site are reportedly limited to the wooden building named Songseogjeong, built in the 1950s within the garden. The Korea Heritage Service confirmed that one of the structure’s wooden pillars was severely burned.

Officials confirmed that no designated cultural assets, such as national treasures, were housed in the garden, and no casualties were reported.

The Garden in Seongbuk-dong was designated Scenic Site No. 345 in 2008. Originally a villa from the Joseon era (1392-1897), the site reflects the traditional Korean garden style, which emphasizes preserving the natural terrain.


shinjh@heraldcorp.com