A small fire near Jaseondang Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace damaged parts of a nearby doorway, including a pillar and door, but did not spread further.
The Korea Heritage Service said the fire started around 5:35 a.m. March 28 at a side door near Sambimun Gate in front of Jaseondang Hall.
A safety officer on patrol spotted smoke and used a fire extinguisher and a hydrant to put out the flames in about 15 minutes. No injuries were reported.
Officials said the fire was contained before it could spread, but one auxiliary pillar of the side door and part of a crossbeam were burned or scorched.
In a text alert, the agency said a joint review with the fire department and other authorities indicated the blaze was believed to have started spontaneously. It said no suspicious activity was detected nearby, and no cigarette butts or flammable materials were found. The exact ignition point and how the fire began have not been confirmed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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