Removing and Wrapping... The Rescue Operation of Cultural Heritage Manuscripts

Struggle of National Gyeongju Cultural Heritage Research Institute Staff to Transport Cultural Assets
Ministry of Culture Heritage, Fire Agency, and Civilians Sweat to Stop Uljin Wildfire Spread
Initial Response Strengthened... Safety Situation Room Urgently Needs More Personnel

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Researcher Shim Myeong-bo of the National Gyeongju Cultural Heritage Research Institute was under urgent pressure on the 6th. He received a call from the Cultural Heritage Administration requesting the urgent transfer of cultural assets located at Bulyoungsa Temple in Uljin. A large wildfire was forecasted to move southward, putting the treasure Yeongsanhwaedo, the Buddhist ritual palanquin Bulyeon, and the Gyeongbuk Tangible Cultural Property Sinjungtanghwa at risk. The distance from the National Gyeongju Cultural Heritage Research Institute was about 170 km. Without a highway, he had to quickly pack packing tools and depart.

After about three hours of driving, the scene was chaotic. Flames continuously rose from the north, coloring the sky a bright orange. Firefighters were drawing water from the scenic Bulyoungsa Valley and attaching it to five or six firefighting helicopters circling overhead. Some wrapped the Bulyoungsa Three-story Stone Pagoda and other sites with yellow fireproof tarps to prepare for wildfire damage. Researcher Shim began the cultural asset transfer operation with them. He said, "Yeongsanhwaedo and Sinjungtanghwa are Buddhist paintings from the late Joseon period, and Bulyeon is a Buddhist ritual palanquin made in the 17th century. All of them are structurally fragile and in poor preservation condition, so they had to be moved carefully."

"Yeongsanhwaedo measures 4 meters on each side. It was firmly fixed near the ceiling, requiring the help of firefighters. It took about an hour to wrap it with neutral paper and load it onto the vehicle. Bulyeon’s assembled parts were loose, and the metal was corroded, so it couldn’t be lifted carelessly. It took about two hours to place it on the stand, tie it with ropes, and then cover it sequentially with neutral paper and cotton padding (shock absorber)."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The three cultural assets stayed in the National Gyeongju Cultural Heritage Research Institute’s storage facility equipped with temperature and humidity control before returning to their original locations on the 24th. Fortunately, Bulyoungsa Temple was not damaged by the wildfire. Nearby natural monuments such as Uljin Seongryugul Cave, Uljin Haenggok-ri Drooping Pine, Uljin Susan-ri Oak, the treasure Uljin Gusan-ri Three-story Stone Pagoda, and the nationally registered cultural asset Uljin Haenggok Church also remained unharmed. Jeon Do-wook, head of the Cultural Heritage Team at Uljin County Office’s Culture and Tourism Division, said, "Only the base of the Simcheonbeom Filial Piety Monument on the rock mountain in Oemallae, Ducheon-ri, Buk-myeon, was slightly scorched, and there was no other cultural asset damage."

This was thanks to thorough preparation by the Cultural Heritage Administration, firefighting authorities, and civilians. A firebreak was established on National Route 36 in the north, and all efforts were focused on stopping the southward-moving wildfire. Joo Chung-hyo, officer of the Natural Monuments Division at the Cultural Heritage Administration, said, "Dry fallen leaves had piled up around Bulyoungsa Temple, so if a fire started, it could have spread greatly. About thirty staff from the Gyeongbuk Northern Cultural Heritage Care Center cleared the leaves, and firefighters conducted water spraying nearby to control the flames." Seo Min-seok, researcher at the Safety Standards Division of the Cultural Heritage Administration, said, "When the Uljin Nuclear Power Plant was at risk and firefighting personnel were withdrawn, staff from the Gyeongbuk Northern Cultural Heritage Care Center stayed until the end to hold the firebreak. Even in the early stages of the wildfire, related information was transmitted in real-time to the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Safety Situation Room, enabling a swift response."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Some argue that this wildfire should be an opportunity to create buffer zones or separation spaces around temples or cultural assets. However, indiscriminately cutting down trees could cause other damage. Researcher Seo said, "Termites that eat wood can move onto wooden buildings or cultural assets and cause decay. It is better to plant fire-resistant tree species or strengthen cooperation between temples."

Initial response can be further strengthened. Recently, the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Fire Agency established an integrated control platform linked with closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. This system allows the two administrative agencies to immediately share videos related to cultural heritage disasters and respond accordingly. Researcher Seo explained, "Previously, when a 119 emergency call was received, it took about 20 minutes for the Fire Agency to inform about cultural asset damage or disaster occurrence. From now on, information and data will be shared in real-time." He added, "The Cultural Heritage Administration also provides CCTV footage installed at wooden cultural assets nationwide and the Cultural Heritage Geographic Information System (GIS) to the Fire Agency and the Korea Forest Service to facilitate effective responses."

However, smooth communication cannot be expected immediately. This is because the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Safety Situation Room has only two personnel managing safety operations. Compared to the Fire Agency, which operates with at least three shifts, it has been evaluated as having poor real-time response capability from the early stages of operation. In fact, nearly 300 cultural assets have been damaged by natural disasters over the past five years. Causes vary from wildfires, earthquakes, heavy rains, typhoons, to animals. Since restoration is difficult once damaged, a response system considering simultaneous multiple disasters is urgently needed.

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