Wildfire spreads to Jirisan Mountain, national treasures evacuated

And the devastating wildfires are putting the nation's cultural assets at risk, too, having destroyed an ancient temple dating back over 13-hundred years.

Lee Seung-jae takes a look.

The wildfires raging in Sancheong-gun, and Hadong-gun counties have now spread to the Jirisan National Park.

Jirisan National Park is considered a sacred mountain to the people of Korea, and was the first national park in the country.

Forestry officials have made every effort to prevent the further spreading of the wildfire at the national park by spraying fire retardants and mobilizing helicopters.

Residents and livestock are being evacuated from the area, and major cultural heritage items, including national treasures, are also being moved to safety.

By Wednesday, the Korea Heritage Service said it had moved 15 historic pieces to safety from areas affected by wildfires.

Among them are 10 national treasures, including a seated stone Buddha statue from the now-destroyed Gounsa Temple in Uiseong.

15 national heritage items have been destroyed by wildfires, including 11 designated as national heritage and 4 as provincial heritage.

While items can be moved to safety more freely, sites such as temples are impossible to move.

This has led to historically important temples like Gounsa Temple being damaged.

"This temple is an important and historic temple where many masters and believers have been practicing and receiving comfort for over 1,300 years. It is a place of comfort for many people, but I am very afraid that it may disappear."

The Korea Heritage Service, on Tuesday, issued the highest national heritage disaster alert level.

In the four-tier alert system, the KHS issued the "serious" level for the first time ever.

The KHS explained that the highest alert level was issued due to the very high risk of damage to the national heritage items and sites due to the rapidly spreading wildfires.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.