The Busan Yongdusan fires, also known as the Yongdusan Park Great Fire (Korean: 용두산 공원 대화재; Hanja: 龍頭山公園大火災),[1] was a series of two fires that happened on 10 and 26 December 1954, around Yongdusan Park, Busan, South Korea. The fires resulted in the destruction of hundreds of shanty buildings, along with the evacuation of around 7,420 refugees in total.[1]
The 26 December fire, in particular, caused the loss of more than 3,400 historic relics, including historic portraits of kings of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). The relics, many of which were considered National Treasures, had been brought to the area for safekeeping during the 1950–1953 Korean War and were kept in a local warehouse owned by the Busan National Music Center. Of the 48 royal portraits kept in the warehouse, 30 were completely destroyed in the fire. The others were recovered in varying conditions, with most being heavily damaged.[2]