Man in 30s Arrested for Attempted Arson at Jogyesa Daeungjeon... "Risk of Escape"

A man in his 30s who set fire near the Daeungjeon Hall of Jogyesa Temple was arrested by the police. On the 19th, the Jongno Police Station in Seoul announced that they had arrested A (35) on the spot and are currently investigating him on charges of setting fire near the Daeungjeon Hall of Jogyesa Temple, damaging part of the mural. Around 2 a.m. that day, A, intoxicated, set fire to a bag soaked with a volatile substance near the Daeungjeon Hall building of Jogyesa Temple and was caught by the police who responded to the report. The photo shows the scorched outer wall of the Daeungjeon Hall caused by A's arson that day. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] A man in his 30s who attempted to set fire to the Daeungjeon Hall at Jogyesa Temple while intoxicated has been arrested and detained.

On the 20th, Judge Kim Seong-hoon, the duty magistrate at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pre-arrest detention hearing for A (35), who is accused of attempted arson of a dwelling, and issued an arrest warrant, stating, "There is a concern that the suspect may flee."

A is accused of entering Jogyesa Temple around 2 a.m. the previous day while intoxicated and setting fire to his bag using lighter fluid near the exterior wall of the Daeungjeon building. He was arrested by police who responded to the report.

The fire was extinguished within five minutes by a security guard on duty. However, as the bag burned, part of the mural painted on the exterior wall of the Daeungjeon building was scorched. It is reported that the fire did not directly spread to the mural.

At the time of the incident, A was intoxicated. During the police investigation, he reportedly stated that he does not remember due to being drunk. The police judged that detention was necessary and applied for an arrest warrant for A the previous day.

The police are also considering applying charges under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act against A. The Cultural Heritage Protection Act stipulates that those who commit arson on nationally designated cultural properties can be punished under Article 165 of the Criminal Act for arson of public buildings. According to Article 165 of the Criminal Act, if arson causes damage to public buildings, the offender may face life imprisonment or imprisonment for three years or more.

Jogyesa Temple is located in the heart of Jongno-gu, Seoul. It is the head temple and main headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, housing the General Affairs Office and the Central Council. The Daeungjeon Hall at Jogyesa is designated as Seoul City Tangible Cultural Property No. 127, and next to the Daeungjeon Hall is Baeksong, Natural Monument No. 9.

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