8 artifacts relocated to nearby museum after Jogyesa complex fire

Some eight Buddhist artifacts on display at the Central Buddhist Museum next to Jogyesa, a Buddhist temple in central Seoul, were moved to the nearby National Palace Museum of Korea in a precautionary measure prompted by a fire.

According to the Korea Heritage Service, eight artifacts requiring urgent relocation were transferred to the National Palace Museum of Korea for assessment and will be temporarily stored at the state museum located inside Gyeongbokgung, the main Joseon-period palace. The artifacts include one designated cultural heritage item and seven nondesignated artifacts that were on open display at a special exhibition at the Central Buddhist Museum.

The agency added that the decision on relocating the remaining 25 items is to be made later.

The measure followed a fire that broke out at the international conference hall on the second floor of the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall next to the temple at 10:22 a.m., causing some 300 people to evacuate, according to fire authorities and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

The Central Buddhist Museum is on the basement level of a building connected to the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall. The fire was extinguished at 11:57 a.m.

At the time of the fire, the Central Buddhist Museum was hosting an exhibition titled "Hoseon Euigyeom: The Buddha Revealed at the Tip of the Brush." The special exhibition, which opened April 9, featured cultural heritage items collected from temples across the country.

Thirty-three items were on display, including nine state-designated National Treasures, such as the "Yeongsanhwesangdo" and "Palsando" paintings from Songgwangsa in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, and nine state-designated Treasures, including an 18th-century Buddhist painting from Heungguksa in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. The pieces were placed inside glass cases for protection from physical harm, dust and environmental damage.

"We sincerely apologize for causing concern to the Buddhist community and the public due to the sudden fire. We will promptly address the situation and take swift action to ensure public safety," the largest Buddhist sect in Korea said in a statement.