-
Why wildfire damage is so severe in southeastern region
Rain expected on Thursday, but won’t be enough to put out fires: weather agency As a deadly wave of wildfires continued to ravage southeastern parts of South Korea on Wednesday, the region saw a highly alarming increase in human and infrastructure damage overnight, with poor governmental response in evacuation efforts and climate change cited as the main factors. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, a total of 19 people have died in the wildfires, with one p
March 26, 2025 -
Far-right ex-professor condemned for instigating main opposition leader's assassination
A Christian group said Tuesday it has filed a criminal complaint against a former seminary professor who wrote on Facebook that he "wishes for the success of plans to assassinate Lee Jae-myung," leader of main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. In the complaint filed by the Christian Recovery Center, an affiliate of left-leaning Christian media platform Peace Tree, So Gi-cheon, a former seminary professor of the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, is accused of instigating murde
March 26, 2025 -
Deadly Seoul sinkhole raises alarm as Korea sees 1,345 cases since 2018
A fatal sinkhole that opened in the middle of a busy street in Seoul on Monday is raising new alarms about the growing risk of ground collapses in South Korea’s ever-developing urban centers. As cities across the country expand underground infrastructure — from subways to drainage systems — concerns are growing over whether safety regulations are keeping pace. The most recent incident occurred Monday evening, when a massive sinkhole, roughly 20 meters wide, suddenly swallowed a section of road s
March 26, 2025 -
Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment verdict could be pushed to April
The Constitutional Court of Korea, which has been deliberating suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment for more than a month, following the end of hearing on Feb. 25, could potentially push its verdict announcement to April, according to observers. The eight justices have been holding deliberation meetings almost daily, but have pushed off announcing the verdict unprecedentedly. Of the six impeachment verdicts made by the court since Yoon’s impeachment case was also delivered to them on
March 26, 2025 -
Deadly blaze leaves behind animals in peril
As destructive wildfires sweep through the country's southeastern regions, animals left behind during evacuations have either been killed or suffered injuries, according to animal protection organization Weact on Wednesday. Weact discovered a dog huddled inside a shed near a home devastated by the fire in Sancheong-gun, about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Tuesday afternoon. The dog, which had deep wounds around its neck, was taken to a nearby animal hospital. "The dog was trembling in fe
March 26, 2025 -
Among wildfire victims, a village chief and family who'd returned to evacuate villagers
Most victims in gargantuan fire in southeastern region are elderly residents, according to authorities With the number of confirmed deaths from the wildfires in the Gyeongsang provinces reaching 18 as of Wednesday morning, the bodies of many of the victims were found on the road or in their homes. Among them are the chief of the village of Samui-ri and his family, who were found inside a car that was headed in the direction of the burning village, not away from it. The village chief and his wife
March 26, 2025 -
Rainfall expected Thursday, but may not be enough to contain wildfires
South Korea is expected to see long-awaited rainfall on Thursday amid ongoing efforts to contain wildfires ravaging the country’s southeastern regions. However, the expected precipitation in the fire-stricken areas is forecast to be too little to effectively suppress the blazes. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Wednesday, rain will begin on the southern coasts of South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces Wednesday night and spread nationwide through Thursday. However, Ui
March 26, 2025 -
Man swallowed by sinkhole had worked 2 jobs to provide for his family
33-year-old motorcyclist was on delivery shift when huge sinkhole swallowed him The 33-year-old motorcyclist who died in a sinkhole formed in eastern Seoul had been a hard-working man who worked multiple jobs, his friends, family and colleagues recalled. According to local media reports, the victim surnamed Park had been the primary breadwinner for his family consisting of him, his younger sister and their mother. He had provided financially for his family since his father died in 2018 in an acc
March 26, 2025 -
Chaos escalates as deadly blaze spreads in southeastern region
Death toll rises to 19; acting president calls wildfire worst in South Korean history Wildfires continued to rage across southeastern South Korea on Wednesday, as residents grappled with a rising death toll, unprecedented property damage, and the destruction of national treasures. As of Wednesday afternoon, the wildfires claimed the lives of at least 23 people and injured 19 others, according to disaster authorities. The strong winds and dry weather fueled the wildfires to spread rapidly eastwar
March 26, 2025 -
Police tow away tractor near anti-Yoon protesters in Seoul
Police on Wednesday towed away a tractor near a location in downtown Seoul where protesters who support impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol were gathered. Police suspect the tractor was involved in the protest led by the farmers' group that called for Yoon's impeachment the previous day, which then made a detour to reach downtown Seoul overnight. Some protesters who support Yoon's impeachment fiercely protested the move as police tried to tow the tractor away. On Tuesday, the Korean Peasants
March 26, 2025 -
Biz groups join relief efforts in wildfire-hit areas
South Korea's major business groups have stepped up to support relief and recovery efforts for residents affected by recent wildfires in the country's southeastern region, they said Wednesday. Hyundai Motor Group said it has donated 2 billion won ($1.26 million) to aid the recovery in the areas hit by large-scale wildfires, including Sancheong of South Gyeongsang Province, Uiseong of North Gyeongsang Province and Ulju in Ulsan. The group has also dispatched six emergency support vehicles, includ
March 26, 2025 -
Deadly wildfires kill at least 24 in southeast Korea
At least 24 people have been killed and 19 others injured in a series of devastating wildfires sweeping across South Korea’s southeastern region, with many of the victims in their 60s or older, according to the Korea Forest Service. The fires that began in Sancheong County in North Gyeongsang Province last Friday have spread to nearby Uiseong, and were advancing to neighboring Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok, fueled by strong and dry winds. Of the dead, two were found in Andong, thre
March 26, 2025 -
Fire response level raised to highest as wildfires spread
The National Fire Agency said Tuesday it has raised the fire response level to the highest to mobilize all available resources to contain wildfires spreading across the southeastern region. The third level in the three-tier system is issued when massive damage from a disaster is anticipated, calling for the mobilization of all firefighting personnel and equipment nationwide. It marks the first time this year that the agency has issued the highest level of alert. Under the alert, firefighters wil
March 25, 2025 -
Woman in 60s found burned to death in Cheongsong amid wildfires
Police said Tuesday the burned body of a woman in her 60s was found on a roadside in the southeastern county of Cheongsong, where massive wildfires are spreading. The 65-year-old woman, whose identity was withheld, was found dead by a passerby at around 7 p.m. on the roadside just off a main road in the area, police said. She had apparently been evacuating by car following the evacuation order from the local authorities. When she was discovered, she had appeared to have managed to get out of the
March 25, 2025 -
Inmates evacuatd as wildfire nears Cheongsong prison
South Korea’s correctional authorities decided to transfer about 500 of its inmates from a major prison complex in North Gyeongsang Province Tuesday as wildfires that began in Uiseong spread to Cheongsong, threatening the area around the facility. According to the Ministry of Justice, the decision was made in the afternoon to evacuate inmates housed in the Northern Correctional Institution of North Gyeongbuk Province, formerly known as Cheongsong Prison, after the wildfire reached Cheongsong Cou
March 25, 2025