The decorative coloring or “dancheong” of the newly restored Sungnyemun Gate in downtown Seoul is rapidly peeling off.
 
The Cultural Heritage Administration said in a recent report that the paint is peeling in 81 sections, up from 20 sections in early October.
 
The administration said the issue was initially limited to cracking paint, but the problem has gotten worse.
 
The administration suspects that excessive use of shell powder in the paint may be behind the problem.