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2025 South Korea wildfires

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2025 South Korea wildfires
A forest fire in Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province
Date(s)March 21, 2025 – present (11 days)
LocationCentral and southern South Korea
Statistics
StatusOngoing wildfire
Total fires>20
Burned areaabout 48,172.5 hectares (119,037 acres)
Impacts
Deaths30
Non-fatal injuries45
Evacuated>37,829

Since March 21, 2025, South Korea has experienced a severe wildfire outbreak involving more than 20 separate blazes occurring simultaneously across the country. The disaster has so far killed 30 people, including three firefighters and one government employee, and has led to the displacement of more than 37,000 people. The first significant fire occurred in Sancheong County, followed by the now most significant fire in Uiseong County, prompting widespread evacuations and mobilizing extensive firefighting resources. In response to the emergency, several provinces were officially designated as disaster zones by the national government.[1]

The wildfires have been deemed the worst in South Korea's history by acting president Han Duck-soo.[2]

Wildfires

[edit]

The Sancheong County fire began on March 21, 2025, and by the evening of March 22 had consumed approximately 1,200 acres (490 ha) of land. The mountainous topography combined with strong winds and dry conditions significantly hampered containment efforts, with firefighters achieving only 35% containment despite substantial deployment of resources for combating the wildfire after earlier reaching 70% containment.[1][3] Fires in North Gyeongsang Province burned approximately 740 acres (300 ha), while Gimhae experienced additional significant fires requiring evacuations.[4] A wildfire broke out in Ulsan, Ulju County.[3]

Additional wildfire incidents were reported across central Chungcheong Province and southwestern Jeolla Province, indicating the nationwide scope of the emergency.[5]

Additional wildfires that broke out simultaneously have affected multiple regions throughout central and southern South Korea. The Korea Forest Service issued its highest-level "severe" fire warnings for 12 locations, including Daejeon, Busan, and the North and South Gyeongsang Provinces.[1][4] The alert was later issued for the whole country.[6]

March 23

[edit]

At 4:03 pm, a fire broke out on Mokdo Island, Ulju-gun, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and was extinguished after 1 hour and 50 minutes.[7]

March 24

[edit]

At 3 pm on March 24, the Seosan–Yeongdeok Expressway Jeomgok Rest Stop for the Yeongdeok direction was damaged by a forest fire. The forest fire then spread to the mountains of Hyeonha-ri, Gilan-myeon, Andong-si, and Gyeongsangbuk-do.[8][9] Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited the Forest Fire Integrated Command Center and inspected the forest fire response situation.[10]

March 25

[edit]

On March 25, the National Fire Agency raised its fire response level to the highest of three alert levels.[11] That same day, the Gounsa temple in Uiseong, which dates back from the Silla Dynasty, was destroyed by the wildfires, which occurred after the National Treasures in its collection had been evacuated. At least 92 private and public facilities in the county were also damaged by the fire.[12] Eleven firefighters who assisted in the evacuation of items and monks and other personnel at the complex were rescued after being trapped in a bathhouse for several hours when the fires arrived.[13] The Korea Heritage Service issued a 'serious' national heritage disaster national crisis alert nationwide.[14]

By that same day, more than 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of land had been burned in the wildfires.[15]

March 26

[edit]

In Yeongdeok County, 104 residents became stranded at a coastal port and breakwater while attempting to flee the advancing fire during the early morning hours of March 26. These individuals required subsequent rescue operations by the Uljin Coast Guard. Media outlets ascribed blame for the situation to the failure of Korean emergency response services to coordinate the regional evacuation process.[16]

Two of three buildings of the Cheorwon Mushroom Farm burnt down in Seo-myeon, Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province.[17]

At noon, an S-76 firefighting helicopter crashed while responding to fires in Uiseong, killing the pilot.[18] The helicopter was later found to have a 30-year airframe age.[19]

On the same day, tap water supply in certain high-altitude areas of Andong were cut off due to a power outage at the pressurized water supply facility caused by the wildfire. The areas included the myeons of Imha, Namhu, Iljik, Namseon, Imdong, Pungcheon, and Gilan.[20]

March 27

[edit]

North Gyeongsang Province experienced intermittent rain, though its extinguishing power was minimal.[21] The province also experienced exceptionally poor air quality, with PM2.5 particulate reaching the concentration of 557㎍/㎥ in Andong city, seven times the "extremely poor" designation.[22] By 5 pm, the fire spread to two kilometers outside of Andong city limits. The fire department reported containment of the spread, though it remained cautious about high winds reigniting the flames.[23]

March 28

[edit]

Authorities announced the full containment of wildfires in North Gyeongsang.[24]

March 29

[edit]

Wildfires reignited in the Andong area early in the morning.[25]

March 30

[edit]

Authorities announced the full containment of wildfires in North and South Gyeongsang.[26]

Casualties and damage

[edit]
Satellite photo, 22 March

At least 30 people were confirmed to have died in the wildfires,[25] while 37 others were injured, nine of them seriously.[27] It is the deadliest wildfire outbreak in South Korea since records began in 1987.[28] Twenty of the dead originated from Uiseong, while four were from Sancheong.[29] Most of the dead were aged in sixties to seventies.[30] The confirmed fatalities included three firefighting personnel and one public sector worker who perished while combating the Sancheong County fire.[1] Five other emergency personnel sustained injuries during firefighting operations and required medical treatment.[4] One civilian was injured.[3]

Two civilians were found dead while evacuating from the Uiseong fire in Cheongsong and Andong, respectively.[31][32] Three civilians in Yeongdeok and five in Yeongyang were also found dead.[33] The chief of the village of Samui-ri was killed along with his wife and two relatives died after their car was caught up in the fires.[34] One person also went missing in Cheongsong.[35] On March 26, a firefighting helicopter crashed in Uiseong, killing the pilot.[36]

Around 6,400 facilities were damaged by the wildfires, while authorities estimated total damages to have reached approximately 2 trillion won ($1.35 billion) by 31 March.[37] On March 25, Gounsa Temple, one of the headquarters of the Jogye Order, was severely damaged by the fire. Several structures, including Gaunru and Yeonsujeon, both Treasures, were burnt down.[38][39] Only nine of the complex's 30 buildings were unaffected by the fire.[40] The Korea Heritage Service also confirmed damage to 30 heritage sites.[41] Among them were the Chiljoknyeong Pass on Baegunsan in Gangwon Province; a 900-year-old ginkgo tree and the Goryeo-era Dubangjae Shrine in Hadong, South Gyeongsang; an evergreen forest and a centuries-old fortress in Ulsan; the Joseon-era Mansae Pavilion, the late 18th-century Sanam House in Cheongsong, and the stone seated Buddha statue at Manjang Temple in Uiseong.[42][41] The Beopseongsa Temple in Seokbo-myeon in Yeongyang, North Gyeongsang, was also destroyed, killing its presiding monk.[43] The Yakgye Pavilion in Andong and the Gigokjesa ritual house in Cheongsong were also destroyed.[41]

A report by the National Institute of Forest Science in March 2025 said that structural recovery of ecosystems affected by the wildfires could take more than 30 years, while their full ecological stabilization would take more than 100 years.[37]

Investigation

[edit]

The Uiseong wildfire was attributed by Acting President Han Duck-soo to an accident caused by a person who was tending to a family grave site[44] and used a lighter to remove a tree branch hanging over the site, triggering embers that were spread by winds.[45] The suspect was formally charged by police on 30 March.[46]

The Sancheong-Hadong fire was found to have been caused by a brush cutter at a farm, while a fire in Ulju was blamed on a welding operation at a farm. The Gimhae fire was caused by a graveyard keeper who burned a bag of chips, while a wildfire in Hamyang was found to have been started by sparks from a fence being welded as protection from wildlife.[47]

Response

[edit]
South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su at the Sancheong Wildfires Response Meeting, 21 March

The firefighting operation has involved nearly 1,600 personnel, 35 helicopters, and numerous ground vehicles. Acting President of South Korea Choi Sang-mok directed all relevant government agencies to employ the maximum available resources for fire suppression activities. The national administration formally declared North and South Gyeongsang provinces and Ulsan as disaster zones, enabling additional emergency resources and support measures.[1][48] The government said that it would issue a special disaster and safety grant amounting to 2.6 billion won (US$177.4 million) for the affected areas, and pledged 50 million won in disaster relief funds for affected residents of Sancheong County.[49]

The South Korean government mobilized more than 25% of affiliated government officials and deployed over 50% of local public service personnel to standby positions in areas placed under "severe" fire conditions. Military shooting exercises in the warning regions were suspended, and forest entry permits were canceled. Areas designated with "alert" fire warnings had more than one-sixth of affiliated government officials mobilized, with over one-third of local public service personnel being mobilized to standby positions.[48] The Republic of Korea Armed Forces deployed 6,000 personnel and 242 helicopters to help in firefighting efforts.[50]

South Chungcheong Province Wildfires Emergency Meeting, 25 March

The emergency displaced at least 37,829 people[51] and necessitated the evacuation of residents from 15 villages in affected areas. This included the evacuation of 260 residents of Sancheong County to temporary shelters after their homes were destroyed by wildfires from the surrounding hillsides, the displacement of 500 individuals in Uiseong County, and dozens of residents of Gimhae.[1][3][4] A wildfire that spread in Ulju County in Ulsan, necessitated the evacuation of about 80 people.[3] Additionally, authorities closed multiple highway and railway sections in southeastern regions, including a major route connecting Ulsan and Busan, the nation's second-largest metropolitan area.[1][3] Authorities also ordered the evacuation of 2,600 inmates at the Cheongsong Prison after wildfires reached Cheongsong County from Uiseong,[52] while 800 inmates were also evacuated from Andong Prison.[53] The evacuations were the first large-scale operations of its kind conducted by the Ministry of Justice due to a natural disaster.[15]

Amid threats to cultural heritage in the area, the Korea Heritage Service raised its disaster alert level to "serious" for the first time on March 25, the highest in its four-tier warning system.[54] The agency also said it had relocated 15 historic items, including 10 national treasures, from affected areas, including pieces from Bongjeongsa in Andong, Buseoksa in Yeongju, and Gounsa in Uiseong. It also confirmed eight cases of damage to cultural sites, including at Gounsa, where all but nine of the complex's 30 buildings were destroyed. Among them were the Yeongsu Hall and Gaunru Pavilion, both of which are designated national treasures.[55] Evacuation orders were issued to residents of Byeongsan Seowon and the Hahoe Folk Village, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as the Daejeon Temple in Cheongsong.[15][56] A large fire cannon was deployed to Hahoe to protect the village,[57] along with 14 firefighting vehicles and 98 personnel.[58]

Impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol expressed condolences over the wildfires.[59] Following his reinstatement as acting president, Han Duck-soo sent handwritten letters to relatives of those killed in the wildfires and said he would meet with other wildfire victims on March 24.[60] He also ordered local governments to "mobilize all available administrative resources to ensure residents in the affected areas can quickly move to safe locations",[61] and announced a crackdown on illegal incineration as well as a review on government regulations on wildfire prevention and response.[62] On March 27, Han sent acting interior minister Ko Ki-dong [ko] to oversee relief efforts in North Gyeongsang.[63] On March 28, Han visited Andong and met with disaster officials and victims of the wildfires.[64]

Hyundai Motor Group, SK Group and LG Group donated KRW2 billion (US$1.26 million) each to assist in recovery efforts, while Lotte Group donated KRW1 billion and Shinsegae Group gave KRW500 million. They also sent additional services and equipment, including eight vehicles and other appliances and necessities. SPC Group and Oriental Brewery delivered bottled water to affected areas.[65]

Multiple K-pop figures sent donations to wildfire relief, including boy group Seventeen, who donated 1 billion won to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association,[66] Ulju native Lee Chan-won, who gave 100 million won (US$68,000) to the Korea Disaster Relief Association,[67] singer Jung Kook, who donated 1 billion won to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association,[68] girl group Le Sserafim, who donated 50 million won to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association,[69] actress and singer Im Yoon-ah, who donated 100 million won to the Community Chest of Korea,[70] and singer Taeyeon, who donated 100 million won to the Korean Red Cross.[71] By March 28, the Korea Disaster Relief Association said it had raised 1.83 billion won in fundraising to buy firefighting equipment.[72]

Criticism

[edit]

The Korean disaster response has become the subject of significant criticism from media outlets, who have stated that the uncoordinated and "immature" responses have contributed to the number of deaths and casualties caused by the wildfires.[16]

Emergency disaster text message alerts were described as unsystematic and confusing. Evacuation notices were frequently issued just before the fire crossed into new jurisdictions, allowing minimal preparation time for residents to flee. In some instances, evacuation instructions were contradictory, with designated evacuation locations changing within minutes of the initial directions. In addition, the evacuation messages lacked practical means to self-evacuate, and inadequately addressed the complex needs of vulnerable populations, particularly elderly residents of which several were among the fatalities.[16] Yonhap News described the use of a general evacuation order only once the fire was imminent, instead of sequenced evacuations in advance once the fires started days earlier, as creating situations akin to "a battlefield with a line of refugees".[73]

The stranding of 104 residents in Yeongdeok County at a coastal port and breakwater while attempting to flee the advancing fire during early morning hours was regarded as a consequence of improper coordination concerning the evacuation process. Critics noted that despite the fire's demonstrated ability to spread rapidly between jurisdictions, authorities appeared reluctant to order preemptive evacuations in areas that were clearly at risk based on fire progression and weather conditions.[16]

Representatives from the emergency management authorities have acknowledged shortcomings in their disaster response while emphasizing the challenges presented by the wildfire conditions. An official statement ascribed the failures to the unprecedented difficulty of coordinating evacuations amid hurricane-force winds that rapidly changed direction, combined with near-zero visibility conditions. The authorities indicated that while most residents were successfully evacuated, they acknowledged responsibility for those who perished during evacuation attempts. Officials have cited the dynamic nature of the wildfire situation as a factor in the changing evacuation directives, explaining that designated safe zones had to be adjusted as the fire's behavior evolved.[16]

The mayor of Ulsan, Kim Du-gyeom [ko], was criticized for saying in a disaster briefing that it was difficult to deploy personnel for wildfire suppression because "there are many female employees".[74]

List of major wildfires

[edit]
Name County Area Start date Containment date Casualties and Damages Notes Ref.
Sancheong-Hadong Sancheong, Hadong 1,858 hectares (4,590 acres) March 21 March 30 4 dead, 10 injured Major fire in Sancheong and Hadong. Fire reached Jirisan National Park and Jinju [75]
Uiseong-Andong Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, Yeongyang >45,175 hectares (111,630 acres) March 22 March 30 26 dead, 33 injured. Thousands of structures destroyed, including Gounsa Evacuations in Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, Uljin, Yecheon and Pohang. Fire reached Juwangsan National Park, and spread east to Yeongyang and Yeongdeok. Official figure of the burned area is expected to be lower than the actual figure, as surveying the area to update the information via ground or air had been delayed due to the thick smoke and strong winds. It was initially contained on March 27, but several reignitions have occurred since. [75][76]

[77][78]

Ulju-Onyang Ulju, Yangsan 931 hectares (2,300 acres) March 22 March 27 2 injured Hundreds evacuated. Fire reignited and spread to Yangsan [75][79]
Gimhae Gimhae 97 hectares (240 acres) March 22 March 25 Hundreds evacuated [75]
Okcheon-Yeongdong Okcheon, Yeongdong 39 hectares (96 acres) March 23 March 25 1 injured Reignitions had hindered the complete extinguishment [75][80]
Ulju-Eonyang Ulju 63 hectares (160 acres) March 25 March 26 [75][81]
Bonghwa Bonghwa 9.5 hectares (23 acres) March 25 March 26 Bushfire caused by Uiseong-Andong fire [75][82]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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  67. ^ "Stars rush to donate to support wildfire relief efforts". Yonhap News Agency. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  68. ^ Lee, Ye-ju (March 28, 2025). "[공식] 방탄소년단 정국, 기부 스케일도 '월클'…산불 피해 복구에 10억 기부" [[Official] BTS Jungkook, donation scale also 'monthly'... 1 billion won donated to forest fire recovery] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Naver.
  69. ^ Kyung, Jimin (March 27, 2025). "르세라핌, 산불 피해 복구 위해 5000만원 기부 [공식]". Chosun Biz (in Korean). CHOSUNBIZ. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  70. ^ 임윤아, 산불 피해 지역 복구를 위해 1억 원 기부 [Im Yoon-ah donates 100 million won to help recover areas affected by wildfires]. Naver (in Korean). Herald Economy. March 28, 2025. Archived from the original on March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  71. ^ Lee, Min-ji (March 27, 2025). "태연, 산불 피해 복구에 1억원 기부 "피해 커져 마음 아파" [공식]" [Taeyeon donates 100 million won to forest fire recovery efforts “My heart aches as the damage grows” [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025 – via Naver.
  72. ^ "Firefighters containing wildfires touted as heroes; 1.8b won in donations raised". The Korea Herald. March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  73. ^ "경북북부 휩쓴 산불로 12명 사망…미숙한 당국 대처 도마(종합2보)" [12 dead in forest fires sweeping northern Gyeongbuk… Immature authorities’ response put on the chopping block (Comprehensive 2nd report)]. Yonhap News. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  74. ^ "Ulsan mayor slammed for saying it was hard to dispatch female staff to wildfire". The Korea Herald. March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  75. ^ a b c d e f g "Real-time Wildfire Information". Korea Forest Service (in Korean). Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  76. ^ "[LEAD] "Monstrous wildfire" in Uiseong passes through Cheongsong and Juwangsan National park, and reaches Yeongyang and Yeongdeok". Yonhap (in Korean). Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  77. ^ "[LEAD] 산불 확산, 영덕에서만 6명 숨지고 2만ha 피해". KBS (in Korean). Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  78. ^ "사망자 속출·헬기 추락…경북북부 산불 현장 최악 상황(종합2보)" [Deaths surging and helicopter downed...The wildfire site is in the worst condition(LEAD2)]. Yonhap (in Korean). Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  79. ^ "울주 온양 산불 진화율 낮아져…불길은 양산 경계까지 넘어가(종합)" [The containment rate of Ulju-Onyang fire was lowered...Fire spreads to the boundary with Yangsan(lead)]. Yonhap (in Korean). Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  80. ^ "Okcheon-Yeongdong wildfire had been reignited by strong winds, and the major fire was extinguished 3 hours later". Yonhap (in Korean). Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  81. ^ "울주 언양 산불 20시간 만에 주불 진화…"잔불 관리 집중"" [Ulju-Eonyang wildfire's major fire was extinguished after 20 hours, "Focusing on monitoring the embers"]. Yonhap (in Korean). March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  82. ^ "봉화군 물야면 산불 10시간여만에 진화…9.5㏊ 피해 추정" [Wildfire in Mulya-myeon, Bonghwa county was extinguished after 10 hours... assumed burnt area as 9.5 ha]. Yonhap (in Korean). March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
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