지난 2월 한국의 국보 1호인 숭례문, 즉 남대문에 불을 지른 방화범에게 10년 형이 선고됐습니다.
서울 중앙지법은 방화범 채종기씨의 행동으로 한국 국민이 충격과 수치심으로 인해 감내하기 어려운 큰 정신적 피해를 입었다며 중형의 이유를 밝혔습니다.
69세의 채 씨는 정부로부터 받은 토지보상금이 너무 적은데 불만을 품고 6백년 역사의 남대문에 불을 질렀다고 말했습니다.
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An elderly South Korean man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for setting fire to one of the country's most revered ancient landmarks.
The central district court in Seoul handed down the sentence today (Friday) on 69-year-old Chae Jong-gi, who destroyed the 600-year-old Namdaemun gate in February.
The court said Chae's actions damaged South Korean national pride, and inflicted a terrible psychological toll on its citizens.
Chae says he set fire to the landmark because he was angry at the government for not fairly compensating him in a property sale.
He was charged in 2006 with setting a blaze at a palace in Seoul.
The Namdaemun gate was first built in 1398 as part of the wall that surrounded Seoul. It was designated as South Korea's top national treasure.