According to a report on March 30, South Korean police said they had registered a man suspected of causing the country's largest wildfire. Previously, this wildfire had caused at least 30 deaths and razed thousands of buildings to the ground, including a historic temple.
On March 24, 2025 local time, there was a forest fire scene in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
The report cited an official from the North Gyeongsang Province police. The authorities believe that the man in his 50s caused the fire when he held an ancestral worship ceremony at his family's cemetery in the southeast of Uiseong County on March 22. The official added, "We are verifying the evidence." In South Korea's legal system, "registering in the case" involves registering the suspect, but arrest or charges may not be immediately implemented. The man has denied the accusations.
Investigators talked with the suspect's daughter. She said the cause of the fire was that "her father tried to burn the branches above the ancestral grave with a lighter."
According to the South Korean Forest Service, the wildfire burned more than 48,000 hectares of land, equivalent to about 80% of the area of South Korea's capital, Seoul. The fire destroyed 4,000 buildings, and tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate. Around 17:00 local time on the 25th, Gounsa Temple, a thousand - year - old ancient temple on Deungun Mountain in Uiseong County, was completely burned down by the spreading wildfire. It is known that Gounsa Temple was built in 681 AD and is one of the representative large - scale temples in North Gyeongsang Province.
On March 22, a wildfire broke out in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province. Local media reported that dry weather and strong winds caused the wildfire to spread rapidly eastward. South Korean authorities also issued a level - three forest fire alert. Wildfires are not uncommon in South Korea during droughts.
Analysis shows that in recent years, South Korea has seen an increase in average temperatures and extreme weather events, which greatly increase the risk and severity of wildfires. Experts believe that the increase in wildfires is a sign of the continuous impact of climate change.
As of the 28th, the wildfire was basically under control, but firefighters were still working hard to extinguish the subsequent small fires. The police, fire department, and forest management department will conduct an investigation next week. South Korea's Acting President said that the government will provide economic assistance to the people displaced by the fire.
