South Korean police have launched an investigation into a man suspected of accidentally starting the country's worst-ever wildfire while clearing his family's ancestral graves.
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04-03, 2025Fueled by high winds and dry weather, more than a dozen fires have spread, resulting in at least 28 deaths and burning over 48,000 hectares of forest, according to the Ministry of Interior, marking the most devastating incident on record for the country. Authorities believe the man, in his 50s, ignited the blaze on March 22 in Uiseong County, the hardest-hit area where 12,800 hectares of woodland were affected, while conducting a rite to honor his ancestors at the family burial ground.
An official at the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency stated, "We booked him on Saturday for a non-detained investigation on suspicion of causing a wildfire by negligence." The fire ravaged approximately 48,000 hectares of land, destroyed around 4,000 buildings, and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
The official added that investigators will summon the man for questioning once the on-site inspection is complete, which could take over a month. In South Korea's legal system, booking refers to registering a suspect, but it may not immediately coincide with an arrest or indictment. According to South Korea's state-run Yonhap News Agency, the man has denied the allegations.
Strong winds and extremely dry weather conditions exacerbated the fires, with the region experiencing months of below-average rainfall following the hottest year on record for South Korea in 2024. Among the fatalities was a helicopter pilot who died when his aircraft crashed in the mountains. The fires also destroyed several historical sites, including the ancient Guunsa temple complex in Uiseong, believed to have been originally built in the 7th century. This disaster has also highlighted South Korea's demographic crisis and regional disparities, as rural areas face underpopulation and a disproportionately high percentage of elderly residents.
