A pensioner was arrested on Tuesday by the South Korean police after he confessed that he burnt the 600-year-old gate which represented the national treasure of South Korea, saying that he was angry on the government about a compensation payment.

On Monday the Namdaemun, or "Great South Gate" was reduced to ruins leaving citizens in shock over the losing of a national icon.

The 69-year-old pensioner, known by his family name Chae, is a convicted arsonist, according to Namdaemun police station chief Kim Young-soo.

He was detained on Monday telling the police that he planned this action for several months.

Kim said: "(He said) he committed the crime out of anger because he felt the government did not take enough care with the appeal he filed after being insufficiently compensated for redevelopment in his residential area," Reuters reports.

In 2006 Chae set on fire a small part of a palace in Seoul but got his sentence suspended.

He said that he used a ladder to climb the gate, poured paint thinner on the floor and set it on fire, according to police.

At the police station he told some reporters: "I would like to say sorry to all South Koreans. I cannot apologize enough to my children and the people of this country,"

According to Newspaper editorials, the loss of the Namdaemun could have been avoided if security was tighter.

Citizens who watched the ruins blamed politicians, bureaucrats, firefighters and police for not being able to protect the national landmark.

The head of the Cultural Heritage Administration offered its resignation today due to the harsh criticism it has received regarding the management of the gate.

The gate was constructed in 1398 and it was rebuilt in 1447. It underwent frequent renovations; the most recent one was from 1961 to 1963. It was also called Sungnyemun or "Gate of Exalted Ceremonies" and it was a major tourist attraction.

A restoration was approximated by the Cultural Heritage Administration at about 21 million dollars which will take three years.