According to the latest data from South Korea's Ministry of Interior and Safety, the wildfires raging across the southeastern region of South Korea have resulted in at least 18 fatalities and 19 injuries. The severity of this disaster is unprecedented, causing significant loss of life and property damage to South Korea.
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03-29, 2025Acting President Han Duck-soo stated that the crisis remains extremely serious, calling the fire "rewriting the record of the most severe wildfire in Korean history." Currently, over 23,000 people have been evacuated, and several cultural heritage sites, including a 1300-year-old Buddhist temple, have been damaged. Furthermore, a firefighting helicopter crashed in the mountainous area of Uiseong County on Wednesday noon, and authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
To control the multiple fire points, thousands of firefighters and approximately 5,000 military personnel have been deployed, with helicopters from the U.S. Forces Korea also participating in the rescue operation. On Tuesday, the National Fire Agency raised the crisis level to the highest level, marking the first time such a high-level alert has been issued this year. Wildfires are relatively uncommon in South Korea, and related fatalities are even rarer, making this fire, which has caused 18 deaths in just a few days, the deadliest wildfire in the country's history.
Approximately 17,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed, making this fire the third-largest in Korean history in terms of area burned. The blaze raging in Uiseong destroyed Guunsa Temple, built in 618 AD, which is one of the largest temples in the province. The Forestry Administration confirmed that a Buddhist architectural structure considered a national treasure from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was also destroyed.
Acting President Han stated that all available personnel and equipment have been deployed, but strong winds continue to hinder rescue efforts. "We are desperately hoping for rain today or tomorrow to help extinguish the flames," Han added, "The scale of wildfire damage is unprecedented for us." The Korea Meteorological Administration stated that there is no rain forecast for the area on Wednesday, and only a small amount of rain—5 to 10 millimeters—is expected on Thursday.
Han said that once the crisis is under control, the government will thoroughly review all shortcomings in the wildfire response and seek to improve future prevention strategies. "Once a wildfire starts, extinguishing it requires enormous resources and puts precious lives at risk," he said. South Korea has been experiencing drier-than-normal conditions, with rainfall below average. There have already been 244 wildfires this year, 2.4 times the number in the same period last year.
The government has also pledged to strengthen enforcement against illegal burning (one of the main causes of wildfires) and crack down on individual negligence. The wildfires initially broke out last Friday in Sancheong County in southeastern South Korea, but have now spread to neighboring cities such as Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok.
