President Park Geun-hye on Saturday celebrated the reopening of the ancient gate that was destroyed in an arson attack more than five years ago, saying it will mark the path to a new era.

Sungnyemun, built mainly out of wood, was severely damaged in early 2008 when an elderly man set it on fire in a grudge against the government.

The gate in central Seoul, better known as Namdaemun, meaning "south gate" in Korean, and the nation's No. 1 treasure, was one of the four gates that surrounded Seoul, the then capital of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

"The revival of Sungnyemun means more than the restoration of a cultural asset. I believe it will restore the pride of our people and open up new hope and the door for a new era," Park, wearing Korea's traditional hanbok dress, said in a ceremony to open the restored city gate to the public.

She said, "The No. 1 national treasure is South Korea's face, which symbolizes the national spirit and identity."

Park highlighted that her fledging government will focus on fostering cultural assets, saying, "In order for South Korea to become a cultural powerhouse, the country needs to well preserve and pass down traditional cultural assets, which are the root of our culture."

Now cultural elements take a leading role in determining the future of a nation, the president said, pledging to help develop the culture sector.

The country spent 24.7 billion won ($22 million) in the five-year restoration project involving some 35,000 man-days, which included efforts by scores of historians, field experts and thousands of workers, according to the cultural heritage administration. (Yonhap News)