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| Fire ravages South Korea landmark | Fire ravages South Korea landmark |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Part of a 600-year-old city gate in the South Korean capital, Seoul, has been destroyed by fire in a what may have been an arson attack, police say. | Part of a 600-year-old city gate in the South Korean capital, Seoul, has been destroyed by fire in a what may have been an arson attack, police say. |
| Namdaemun, or the Great South Gate, was considered to be the country greatest national treasure. | Namdaemun, or the Great South Gate, was considered to be the country greatest national treasure. |
| Some 360 firefighters fought the blaze, which broke out late on Sunday, but the wooden superstructure collapsed, leaving only the stone base. | Some 360 firefighters fought the blaze, which broke out late on Sunday, but the wooden superstructure collapsed, leaving only the stone base. |
| Two years ago it was re-opened to the public for the first time since 1907. | Two years ago it was re-opened to the public for the first time since 1907. |
| President-elect Lee Myung-bak visited the gate, officially called Sungnyemun or Gate of Exalted Ceremonies, on Monday. | |
| "People's hearts will ache," he said. | |
| Initial estimates say the gate will take three years to restore, at a cost of $21m. |