Seoul City to Dismantle and Restore Bogukmun and Daedongmun of Bukhansanseong After 30 Years

Removal of Structural Instability Elements... Start in April, Complete by November
Regular Inspections More Than Four Times Annually Since 1993 Restoration... Aging Confirmed in Key Components Such as Roof Tiles and Wall Stones

Bogukmun

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will carry out a complete dismantling and restoration project on ‘Bogukmun’ and ‘Daedongmun’ within ‘Bukhansanseong’ (Historic Site No. 162), a nationally designated cultural heritage site. This is the first such project in about 30 years since the city restored the gates in 1993, aiming to eliminate structural safety hazards caused by the aging of key components such as roof tiles and wall stones, thereby ensuring the safety of citizens and hikers visiting Bukhansanseong.

Since restoring Bogukmun and Daedongmun in 1993, Seoul has conducted regular inspections more than four times a year. Through these inspections, the city identified structural instability in Daedongmun and signs of abnormal deformation in Bogukmun, and carried out a detailed safety diagnosis over six months to develop measures to secure safety.

The detailed safety diagnosis suggested phased partial preservation measures within 3 to 5 years, but to ensure visitor safety, the city decided to advance the full dismantling and restoration by 1 to 2 years. The city has obtained design approval from the Cultural Heritage Administration, completed the restoration design, and selected cultural heritage repair and supervision companies. Construction is scheduled to begin in April and be completed by November.

Bogukmun will be completely dismantled and reinstalled, with drainage channels improved and maintained to prevent rainwater from entering above the gate. Daedongmun’s wooden structure and roof tiles will be fully dismantled and reinstalled, with damaged materials replaced.

Upon completion of the restoration, the structural safety risks caused by aging and deformation of Bogukmun and Daedongmun will be resolved, contributing to the safety of citizens who frequently visit Bukhansan. In particular, during the construction period, to minimize visitor inconvenience and prevent safety accidents, temporary detour stairs will be installed at Bogukmun, and protective shelves and debris nets will be carefully installed at Daedongmun to prevent falling objects, ensuring safe passage for visitors.

Joo Yong-tae, Head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Cultural Headquarters, said, “We are striving to safely preserve and maintain our precious cultural heritage for the citizens who enjoy visiting Bukhansanseong, and we ask for the public’s interest and support. Especially since the restoration work is being conducted in mountainous terrain, we will do our utmost to prevent any safety accidents during the construction period.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.