Fire Destroys South Korea's Best Known Monument

South Koreans mourned the loss of the country's most important cultural monument today after a fire devastated the 610 year old Namdaemun gate in the heart of Seoul.

Police suspect arson or faulty wiring could be to blame for the blaze, which turned the structure's magnificent wooden roof into a pile of smoking ashes.

Namdaemun, or Great South Gate, is designated as the state's number one national treasure. Dating back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), it is the oldest wooden structure in a capital and plays a central role in South Korea's cultural identity.

"People's hearts will ache," said president-elect Lee Myung-bak on a visit to the scene earlier today.

The culture ministry said the gate was one of the few links to Korea's heritage left in the capital city.

The loss of one of the few remaining ancient buildings in the concrete metropolis has prompted a bout of soul searching, with most of the initial criticism directed at firefighters.

According to the local media, the fire broke out on Sunday night and at one point appeared to be controlled by the 360 firemen who were hosing down the outside of the buildings.

But the firemen were so cautious about damaging the structure that they did not hack their way inside to extinguish the source of the blaze. It roared back out of control and after five hours, the ancient roof collapsed.

"Without doubt the fire could have been controlled in the early stage," said Professor Lee Su-kyung of Seoul National University of Technology, told the Reuters news agency. "Someone could have gone inside the structure. I just don't understand."

Investigators are looking into a witness description of a middle-aged man who reportedly climbed the stairs of Namdaemun with a shopping bag, ignited a spark, and then departed the scene as the fire took hold.

Firefighters found two disposable lighters at the origin of the fire, Yonhap news agency reported. But police have not found any closed circuit TV footage that shows a suspect in the vicinity at the time.

Kim Young-soo, head of the central Seoul police station, said an electrical fire had not been ruled out.

"We should investigate by considering all possibilities," he told reporters.

If arson if proved, it will raise questions about security. The gate, which was closed to the public for almost a century, was opened up in 2006.

Culture officials said the loss of the gate - which was built in 1398 as the main southern entrance of what was then a walled city - would be temporary. They believe it can be reconstructed using measurements made two years ago.

Rebuilding the structure with new materials will take at least three years and cost about 20 billion won (£10.8m), the Cultural Heritage Administration said.