Traditional architecture and Sungnyemun Gate

As is noticeable from previous photo post, I have a love for traditional Korean architecture. The above is one that didn't make the cute from Gyeongbokgung.

Knowing that, you can see why this JoongAng Daily article about the re-opened and restored Sungnyemun (or Namdaemun) Gate caught my attention. Sungnyemun lies at the center of Seoul and is over 600 years old. This past May restoration after a 2008 arson attack was completed. However, there is already signs of damage. The article goes into the pigments used in traditional architecture as well.

We found at least 100 major cases of cracks, exfoliation and discoloring on the first and second floors. Counting the smallest cases, the number was up to 1,000.

The lotus flower drawn on the rafters in red, peach and white displayed all of those symptoms. The green in the backdrop wasn’t that different, either. Parts of the color pigments on the floor were also on the verge of being peeled off, if they haven’t already. In fact, color pigments already peeled off were blowing away.

If that's not your cup of tea, here's a couple others I read this week. More on gender roles in South Korea from The Economist. And from the New York Times, North Korea has returned six South Korean men that were being held for illegal entry.