What We Know About South Korea’s Deadly Wildfire

South Korea is currently facing one of its deadliest and most destructive wildfire outbreak in recent history. The fire, which started in the Sancheong County, located in the southeastern part of the country on March 21, 2025, has left at least 27 people dead, with properties and historical sites razed.

Between yesterday, and today, the fire has doubled, propelled by strong winds and an unusually dry season. What began as a localized blaze quickly escalated into a sprawling inferno, which, according to some sources, has burned through 35,810 hectares.

“Pine tress contains resin, which acts like oil, intensifying fires when ignited,” said Lee Byung-doo from the National Institute of Forest Science in Seoul. “This resin causes wildfires to burn faster, stronger and longer.”

One of the worst-hit cities is Andong, which is known for it pine forest.

Also Read: 10 Dead, $150 Billion Gone: What We Know About the Los Angeles Fires So Far

Scale and Impact

So far, it has claimed at least 27 lives, including a firefighter killed in a helicopter crash on March 26 in Uiseong County. Over 37,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, and more than 300 buildings have been reportedly burned. Among the losses is the historic Gounsa Temple, a 1,300-year-old cultural treasure in Uiseong.

Response Efforts

The government has mobilized a massive response, deploying over 10,000 firefighters, soldiers, and police, backed by 120+ helicopters, including U.S. military support. Acting President Han Duck-soo said that the reality that most of the people who had dead as a result of the fire are elderly people is “worrying.”

Threat to Heritage

The fires endanger UNESCO World Heritage sites like Hahoe Village and Byeongsan Confucian Academy in Andong. Authorities are racing to protect these landmarks with fire retardants, but containment remains elusive.

South Korea has seen just half its average rainfall this season, a shift experts tie to climate change, which has brought warmer, drier winters.