DISASTERS
South Korea battles worst ever wildfires
March 27, 2025 - South Korea’s largest ever wildfires have killed at least 27 people, displaced thousands and incinerated historic temples, as authorities called the blazes the country's worst natural fire disaster.
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More than 33,000 hectares have been charred or were still burning in the largest of the fires that began in the central Uiseong county.
The country’s disaster chief said the wildfires were now “the largest on record”, having burned more forest than any previous blazes. The last major wildfire, in April 2020, scorched 23,913 hectares across the east coast.
The blazes are threatening multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Hahoe Folk Village, the Byeongsan Confucian Academy and the Bongjeongsa Temple in Andong city, as authorities sprayed fire retardants to try to protect them.
Fires have already damaged other historic sites, including much of the 7th century Gounsa Temple in Uiseong.