Wind-driven wildfires ravaged South Korea’s southern regions destroying more than 200 structures and forcing 27,000 people to evacuate A road is closed as a wildfire fueled by strong winds spreads in Uiseong Houses burn in a village after being engulfed by a wildfire fueled by strong winds in Uiseong A firefighter works to extinguish a fire at a house that has been engulfed in a wildfire in Uiseong A Korea Forest Service helicopter dumps fire retardant on a wildfire in Sancheong A Korea Forest Service helicopter dumps fire retardant on a wildfire in Uiseong South Korea (AP) — Officials in the South Korean city of Andong on Tuesday alerted residents to evacuate to safe areas as firefighters struggled to contain wildfires that have ravaged southern regions since last week forcing thousands to flee and destroying likely hundreds of structures including a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple and the nearby town of Uiseong ordered residents in several villages and those near Andong University to evacuate to safe locations or temporary shelters — including schools and indoor gyms — as a fire that started in Uiseong continued to spread due to strong winds The fire in Andong was also reaching the village of Pungcheon a UNESCO World Heritage site founded around the 14-15th centuries a Buddhist temple built in the 7th century according to officials from the Korea Heritage Service There were no immediate reports of injuries and some of the temple’s national treasures were evacuated before the fire reached the wooden buildings The fire was also spreading to the nearby coastal town of Yeongdeok where officials shut down roads and ordered residents of at least four villages to evacuate The Justice Ministry did not immediately confirm local reports that it had begun relocating some 2,600 inmates from a prison in Cheongsong county along with 76 helicopters and 530 vehicles were deployed to battle the fires in the Uiseong and Andong areas which were nearly 70% contained as of Tuesday evening The service raised its wildfire warning to the highest “serious” level nationwide requiring local governments to allocate a larger work force for emergency response tighten entry restrictions for forests and parks and recommend that military units withhold live-fire exercises South Korean officials said earlier on Tuesday that firefighters had extinguished most of the flames from the largest wildfires in the country’s southern regions the ongoing dry and windy weather now appears to be causing setbacks Four firefighters and government workers were killed in Sancheong on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds At least 11 other people have been injured by wildfires around the country since last Friday according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety The national government designated the hardest-hit southeastern regions as disaster zones to focus resources and accelerate recovery efforts Government officials suspect that several of the recent wildfires possibly due to the use of fire while clearing overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding work Andong Market's jjimdak (braised chicken) alley is empty of visitors in this photo taken on April 1 A firefighter sprays water on a traditional Hanok house in Hahoe Village in Andong on March 26 Andong launched a "goodwill tourism" campaign to draw in visitors the tree is not the romantic subject we’re used to seeing it presented as there is something almost ominous about these beings Trees have a very different understanding of history and movement; though we see them as stationary things Andong’s work highlights how the migration histories of the native trees of East Asia might reflect human identities in ways we cannot see at first glance I meet Andong over breakfast outside our hotel in Xiamen, China. He’s exhibiting How to Unname a Tree at this year’s Jimei x Arles festival He tells me that it’s exciting to be presenting at the festival this year; in its 10th edition He’s in good company with peers he admires and feels inspired by There is a recurring diasporic intervention in this year’s edition Born in a mountainous province of Eastern China Andong moved to the US a few years ago to study he encountered a pine tree with conflicting names in different languages – the Huangshan pine a famous landmark on Huangshan Mountain – sparking an inquiry into the colonial and geopolitical implications of botanical nomenclature I was lucky enough to be toured through the show by Andong where he showed me the ways in which he applies innovative printing techniques with traditional Japanese paper which is so thin and fibrous it resembles an opaque fabric Andong prints his images onto the paper-fabric giving it an organic and ethereal feel which directly echoes the nature of his black and white images Zheng’s photographs of pine trees from different regions – Huangshan in China and Japan – are printed on East Asian paper sourced from Taiwan historically linked to Japanese colonial paper mills introducing a natural and historical element to the prints The salt in the water interacts with silver nitrate to create light-sensitive surfaces embedding the images with both a physical and metaphorical connection to natural history This process symbolises how natural history predates colonial divisions challenging fixed notions of borders and territories If we consider colonial history on one time scale and natural history on a much broader one we can see how dramatically the world has changed over thousands of years sea levels were roughly 100 metres lower than today What is now the East China Sea was not a body of water but a vast landmass with no strait separating Taiwan from China or Okinawa sometimes driven by random events like powerful Pacific storms carrying species across great distances.” I can’t really solve this.’ That’s what I want Does that bring you more knowledge or bring you more stereotypes?”  In order to obscure the geographical location of the tree the exhibition is deliberately designed to resist categorisation preventing viewers from easily identifying which tree belongs to which region Large prints on delicate Kozo paper (Japanese paper) create a ghostly reinforcing themes of ambiguity and interconnectedness Viewers are encouraged to physically interact with the work mirroring the act of unlearning rigid taxonomies Zheng wants the audience to question their impulse to categorise Andong is also interested in the intersection of photography and botanical classification highlighting how both mediums rely on systems of naming and categorisation His work attempts to sever these rigid connections creating an open space for reinterpretation describing the naming of trees as part of a broader colonial legacy that continues to shape geopolitical conflicts and national identities in East Asia “There is a myth about photographic truth,” claims Andong while a camera lens directly records what is in front of it the process of capturing an image is not purely objective “A photograph is an index of a moment in time and space connecting the physical world to a film plane or digital sensor,” the photographer expands This creates an enduring link between the past and the present but it does not guarantee an unfiltered or unbiased representation of reality Andong critiques the dematerialisation of photography in the digital age advocating for the physicality of images as meaningful objects whilst teasing out the experience of diaspora and the challenges of navigating identity across different cultural and historical contexts we might go some way to reimagining our relationship with identity and labels The project reflects on the tense political climate in East Asia particularly the strained relations between China Andong aims to provide an alternative discourse using trees as a neutral subject to discuss broader issues of identity By drawing parallels between natural and human migration How to Unname a Tree illustrates how plants have long moved freely before modern borders disrupted these patterns “It’s really asking this very core question,” he continues “How do visual similarities conceal and reveal differences at the same time?” @andongzheng Dalia Al-Dujaili is the online editor of BJP and an Iraqi-British arts writer and producer based in London She's the founder of The Road to Nowhere magazine and the author of Babylon Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker National Wildfires burn down 7th-century temple under high threat of wildfire spreading fast on strong winds with embers Wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province razed an ancient temple and triggered an evacuation alert in parts of neighboring Andong and a historic village designated as a World Heritage site toward Oksan-myeon and Jeonggok-myeon in Uiseong County and also were moving north to areas of Pungcheon-myeon in Andong Two UNESCO World Heritage sites — Andong Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy — are located in Pungcheon-myeon a historic site over 1,000 years old from the Silla Dynasty was completely destroyed by fire around 4:50 p.m. national treasures housed at the temple had been relocated to other locations in North Gyeongsang Province before the wildfires spread to the area authorities have deployed 77 helicopters and more than 3,000 personnel train services and highway traffic in the southeastern region were suspended according to state railway and highway operators The Ministry of the Interior and Safety previously announced that the strong winds and dry conditions had complicated wildfire containment efforts for the fourth consecutive day Tuesday Though 65 percent of the wildfires that broke out over the weekend in Uiseong-gun had been put out Monday the containment rate dropped to 60 percent with the fire line increasing from 164 kilometers to 214.5 kilometers on Tuesday More than 12,500 hectares are affected by Uiseong wildfire as of Tuesday making it to become the third biggest forest fire in the country’s history It followed the 2000 East Coast wildfires and 2022 Uljin-Samcheok wildfires which destroyed 23,794 hectares and 16,302 hectares The wildfires in Uiseong-gun have forced almost 4,000 people to evacuate and damaged 92 private and public facilities where police found a woman in her 60s who had burned to death Police assume her death was due to the wildfire While blazes in Uiseong-gun are not yet fully contained the other major wildfires that simultaneously broke out over the weekend — in Sancheong-gun and the city of Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province Okcheon-gun in North Chuncheong Province and Ulju-gun a western district in Ulsan — came under greater control The wildfire that scorched 1,557 hectares south of Sancheong-gun was 88 percent contained Three other fires are expected to be put out as the spread has been effectively stopped as of Tuesday morning With the government announcement on Monday South Gyeongsang Province were listed as special disaster zones The designation of a special disaster zone allows the government to provide partial financial aid for the restoration of both private and public facilities damaged by wildfires The affected residents will also receive a range of financial support including a reduction in public utility fees Wildfires in southeastern South Korea claimed the lives of five people including wildfire responders and civil servants The plan to unify the candidacies of conservative People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo faces a rocky road What’s next after deadline: Mass medical student retentions to come Korea mark 60 years of ties with sculpture Europe highlights plastic pollution at OOC Korea Respect wanes: Teaching no longer highly coveted job in S As unused homes increase in rural South Korea Supreme Court’s verdict sours Lee Jae-myung’s presidential bid Korean mothers are opting for C-sections at record rates South Koreans get creative with Parents’ Day gifts Lee Jae-myung leads in hypothetical three-way race with Han Duck-soo Costco’s steep membership hike tests loyalty of Korean shoppers You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed South Korea (AP) — Wind-driven wildfires that were among South Korea’s worst ever have ravaged the country’s southern regions destroying more than 300 structures and forcing 28,800 residents to evacuate The death toll included a pilot who died after a helicopter crashed during efforts to contain a blaze in the southeastern town of Uiseong Police said that most of the dead are those in their 60s and 70s READ MORE: Wildfires in Japan force residents to evacuate homes in mountains The National Fire Agency said at least 26 people sustained varying degrees of injuries factories and vehicles were destroyed in the wildfires that have burned 17,752 hectares (43,866 acres) the government’s emergency response center said South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo said the wildfires that began last Friday were worse than many previous ones “There are concerns that we’ll have wildfire damages that we’ve never experienced so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week.” Han said crews struggled to extinguish the wildfires because strong winds swept the areas overnight soldiers and other personnel were working Wednesday with the help of about 130 helicopters adding that “a small amount” of 5-10 millimeters (0.1-0.3 inches) of rain was expected Thursday firefighters were tackling at least six active wildfires including in the southeastern coastal town of Yeongdeok which alerted residents of the nearest village to evacuate to an indoor gymnasium Strong winds and smoke-filled skies forced authorities in the southeastern city of Andong to order evacuations in two villages home to the Hahoe folk village — a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded around the 14th-15th century Hikers were advised to leave the scenic Jiri Mountain one of the country’s largest national parks Observers say the ongoing wildfires are the third biggest in South Korea’s history in terms of land burned the neighboring counties of Uiseong and Sancheong officials said firefighters had extinguished most of the flames from the largest wildfires in those areas but wind and dry conditions allowed them to spread again The blaze in Uiseong destroyed about 20 of the 30 buildings and structures at Gounsa a temple said to be originally built in the 7th century Among the burned structures were two state-designated “treasures” — a pavilion-shaped building erected overlooking a stream in 1668 and a Joseon dynasty structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king the Justice Ministry said it protectively removed 500 inmates from a detention center in Cheongsong but no damages were reported to the facility The Korea Forest Service said it had raised its wildfire warning to the highest level nationwide requiring local governments to assign more workers to emergency response Among the dead were four firefighters and government workers who died in Sancheong on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds Government officials suspect human error caused several of the fires © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins A 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple is among buildings destroyed after dry and windy weather saw mostly contained blazes spread again Wind-driven wildfires that were among South Korea’s worst ever are ravaging southern regions, killing 18 people, destroying more than 200 structures and forcing 27,000 people to evacuate, officials said on Wednesday. Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s prime minister and acting president, said five days of fires had caused “unprecedented damage” and asked agencies tackling the disaster to “assume the worst-case scenario and respond accordingly”, according to Yonhap news agency. A helicopter crashed during efforts to contain wildfires in the south-eastern town of Uiseong, killing the pilot and forcing the Korea Forest Service to suspend helicopter operations across the country. Officials in Andong city and other south-eastern cities and towns ordered residents to evacuate on Tuesday as firefighters struggled to contain multiple blazes fuelled by dry winds, which burned more than 17,400 hectares (43,000 acres) of land and destroyed hundreds of structures, including a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple. Read moreMore than 5,500 people were forced to evacuate from their homes in Andong the neighbouring counties of Uiseong and Sancheong according to South Korea’s ministry of the interior and safety South Korean officials earlier on Tuesday had said firefighters had extinguished most of the flames from the largest wildfires in those areas but the ongoing dry and windy weather caused setbacks and allowed the blazes to spread again The ruins of the Unramsa temple are pictured after a wildfire devastated the area in Uiseong Photograph: Minwoo Park/ReutersThe Uiseong fire only 68% contained and exacerbated by strong winds a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science Climate change is projected to make wildfires more frequent “We have to admit large-scale wildfires are going to increase and prepare more resources and manpower,” he told a local television station along with more than 130 helicopters and hundreds of vehicles but efforts were partially suspended overnight as the winds strengthened Officials in Andong and Uiseong county ordered residents in several villages and those near Andong University to evacuate to safe locations or temporary shelters – including schools and indoor gyms – as a fire that started in Uiseong continued to spread a Buddhist temple built in the seventh century Fire destroys buildings in Uiseong Photograph: Yoon Gwan-shick/APThe fire also spread to the nearby coastal town of Yeongdeok The justice ministry did not immediately confirm local reports that it had begun relocating 2,600 inmates from a prison in Cheongsong county Human-caused climate breakdown is responsible for a higher likelihood of fire and bigger burned areas in southern Europe, northern Eurasia, the US and Australia with some scientific evidence of increases in southern China Climate breakdown has increased the wildfire season by about two weeks on average across the globe Massive wildfires tore through southeastern South Korean for 10 days at the end of March and were finally extinguished on Sunday The fires have been described as the worst in the country’s history killing 30 people and destroying upwards of 48,000 hectares of land there were 30 individual wildfires around the country Separate fires broke out in Uiseong County It was this fire that quickly spread east across the region to other nearby cities and counties the largest of the blazes burning some 45,157 hectares had supposedly been extinguished on Friday but reignited Saturday evening and was brought under control again on Sunday The Sancheong fire was also contained on Sunday 26 died in the Uiseong fires while four were killed in the Sancheong fire Around 37,000 people were forced to evacuate but received little or no help from local governments Several people died after being caught in their cars while attempting to flee A resident of Cheongsong in his 60s with the family name Kim stated that there was “no guidance (by the authorities) as to which direction was safe or dangerous” while evacuating so I just ran outside—but it was frustrating that there were no clear or proactive instructions.” Evacuees also reported receiving conflicting information as they attempted to reach safety Messages alerting people to evacuate were sent too late or did not inform people of the location of evacuation centers the Yeongdeok County government called for people to evacuate to the nearby towns of Ganggu or Namjeong only to have the wildfires reach both within 30 minutes Similar examples of confusion and conflicting information have been reported in other counties and towns dry conditions and rough terrain helped to spread the fires and made them more difficult to extinguish An estimated 5,000 buildings including homes factories and agricultural facilities were destroyed in the fires which had been built in 681 during the Unified Silla Period (668-935) Houses and structures preserved from the Joseon Period (1392-1910) were also destroyed in the fires firefighters and other related authorities began a joint investigation into the causes of the fires on Monday a 56-year-old has been accused of starting the fire that began at Uiseong as he tended to his grandparents’ graves on a hillside Media reports suggest that he attempted to clear branches from the graves by burning them He has been charged without detention and has denied the allegations Acting President Han Duck-soo on March 26 declared “The record for worst-ever wildfire is being rewritten.” He continued “We have been confronting the worst ever wildfires by mobilizing all available personnel and equipment but the situation is out of the ordinary.” Han recently resumed his role as acting president after the Constitutional Court rejected his impeachment He serves in this position until the court rules on whether or not to remove President Yoon Suk-yeol from office after he was impeached for his failed attempt to impose martial law in December Huge wildfires also took place in North Gyeongsang Province as well as Gangwon Province in 2022 it is clear that the government was unprepared to deal with the current disaster the governors of North and South Gyeongsang Provinces respectively both stated that firefighters lacked the necessary equipment and support to react quickly to the fires “We need to completely change the system for responding to wildfires We need equipment that can put out fires early on with at least tens of thousands of liters of water such as mobilizing transport aircraft like in other countries and helicopters or firefighting equipment that can fly at night.” Money that could be spent on preparing for natural disasters is being spent on preparations for war Both governors are members of the right-wing People Power Party has backed the US-led war drive against China funnelling huge amounts of money into these military preparations South Korea spent 59.42 trillion won ($US40.37 billion) on its military This percentage is higher than most countries in the region Seoul plans to spend 61.59 trillion won ($US41.84 billion) this year wildfires in South Korea and around the world are not simply the result of mistakes or the lack of equipment but the criminal failure of capitalist governments to take the necessary steps to halt climate change Extreme wildfire activity around the globe has more than doubled over the past two decades with northern and temperate forest regions The Korea Meteorological Administration reported in January that the yearly average temperature in 2024 was 14.5 degrees Celsius This was the hottest since recordkeeping began 113 years ago The previous record high was 13.7 degrees set in 2023 the temperatures in South Korea were 4.5 degrees to 10 degrees higher than the 1990-2020 average according to Climate Central which conducts research on climate change Dry conditions and higher temperatures mean wildfire seasons are also lasting longer exacerbating the conditions that worsen wildfires in countries like South Korea and Japan which recently experienced its own worst wildfire in 50 years Last year was also the hottest year on record globally with the UN World Meteorological Organization stating in January that temperatures had risen 1.55 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels This surpassed the 1.5-degree level that governments had agreed to keep temperatures below in the 2015 Paris Agreement itself inadequate to protect the environment is being ignored as the major capitalist powers responsible for climate change base their policies on the profit interests of big business All Headlines North Korea Sports Top News Most Viewed Korean Newspaper Headlines Today in Korean History Yonhap News Summary Editorials from Korean Dailies March 25 (Yonhap) -- Wildfires ravaging South Korea's southeastern region forced more residents to evacuate Tuesday as firefighting authorities struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes that destroyed a centuries-old temple The fires that began in Sancheong County in the southeast on Friday have spread to nearby Uiseong in the central area of North Gyeongsang Province The engulfing flames destroyed Gounsa Temple in Uiseong National treasures stored in the temple had been relocated to other locations Residents watch wildfires spreading to a nearby hillside in Andong Authorities said the UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village in Andong was at risk of being engulfed by the fires and were mobilizing all resources to protect it from destruction The justice ministry said it was transferring some 2,600 inmates from a correctional facility in the Gyeongbuk Northern Prison in Cheongsong by bus to nearby prisons as the wildfires were spreading fast around the region It was also reviewing the transfer of inmates from the prison in Andong holding about 800 prisoners Acting President Han Duck-soo instructed regional governments to mobilize "all available administrative resources" to evacuate residents from wildfire-hit areas to safe locations He ordered relevant authorities to deploy all equipment and personnel to contain the wildfires as quickly as possible The National Fire Agency said it raised the emergency response level by one notch to the highest burned more than 14,000 acres of woodland across the region since the fires broke out More than 3,000 firefighters and dozens of helicopters and vehicles were deployed to fight the blazes the military has deployed some 5,000 service members and 146 helicopters to help combat wildfires raging in South Korea's southeastern region since last week with a dozen other people sustaining injuries Train services and highway traffic in the southeastern region were suspended as of Tuesday afternoon This photo shows fires in parts of a village in Uiseong County are moved to other locations as wildfires spread into the region on March 24 in this photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service All News National Economy/Finance Biz Culture/K-pop Images Videos Korean Newspaper Headlines Korea in Brief Useful Links Weather Advertise with Yonhap News Agency Centuries-old cultural treasures were destroyed in the east of the country.Image: YONHAP NEWS AGENCY/ReutersMassive destructionMany homes were destroyed in the South Korean district of Uiseong in the country's east At least 24 people are believed to have died so far Almost 9,000 firefighters and more than 130 helicopters have been deployed to tackle the flames around 5,500 people have had to leave their homes 43,000 hectares of land have already been destroyed Embers smoulder in the rubble after a forest fire destroyed large parts of the Gounsa Temple in Uiseong The temple was founded in 681 during the Silla Kingdom Most of the buildings burned to the ground Two men secure a Buddha statue in the Bongjeong temple in the city of Andong There are concerns that the flames could reach this temple as well South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo described the destruction as "unprecedented" and called for a comprehensive national response to the disaster Firefighters have been battling several fires in the country since last week Although the emergency services had reported they had largely brought the flames under control the fires flared up again due to dry conditions and strong winds Investigators suspect that human error may have caused the fires A resident stands in front of a sea of flames in Andong The fires raged particularly fiercely here as well as in the city of Ulsan and in the districts of Uiseong and Sancheong which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 A helicopter crashed during firefighting operations in Uiseong The Korean Forestry Service stated on Wednesday that The building from the Silla dynasty survived unscathed for more than 1,000 years before it fell victim to the third largest wildfire in the country's history National How storied Hahoe Village survived deadly wildfires As flames from a deadly wildfire approached within kilometers of South Korea's historic and storied Hahoe Village firefighters employed an unconventional strategy: continuously drenching the UNESCO World Heritage village with tens of thousands of liters of water Surrounding woodlands were also preemptively cleared to reduce the risk of the fire spreading the flames were within 5 kilometers of Hahoe Village in Andong a city which lies adjacent to the county of Uiseong-gun dousing the hanok — centuries-old traditional wooden homes with straw roofs — in round upon round of water Supported by a giant firefighting pump system and the adjacent Nakdong River these efforts kept even a single spark from spreading to the village “The decision to soak the fire ground is made when the size of the flames is far greater than the available firefighting capacity It is a defensive measure applied when wildfires are expected to grow intensely fueled either by strong winds or other risks of combustion,” a fire agency official who was not authorized to be named in accordance with agency policy “When speed in implementing this measure mattered the most the large-scale fire pump system played a crucial role,” the official added this high-capacity system can discharge up to 75,000 liters of water per minute a rate equivalent to that of nearly 27 fire trucks which spray 2,800 liters of water per minute which was first introduced at Ulsan Chemical Rescue Center in 2022 caught public attention after proving its effectiveness it was able to bring major flames under control within 15 minutes when deployed to the oil storage tank fire at Ulsan Onsan Industrial Complex The official explained that the geographical location of Hahoe Village enabled the firefighters to apply this high-performance equipment successfully we were able to draw water from the Nakdong River which encircles the village,” said the official the fire authorities deployed some 100 firefighters 21 fire trucks as well as three fire helicopters to the site for preemptive firefighting operations on Wednesday and Thursday when the cultural heritage site was most threatened by the fast-moving wildfires The fire agency reportedly continued to spray water all over the village every one or two hours to keep the fire from spreading in dry conditions As part of broader efforts to protect nearby cultural sites the fire agency also felled trees in areas near Byeongsanseowon a 17th-century Confucian academy on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list to eliminate any factors that could ignite small fires Pine and oak trees in 1,322 square meters of woodland near Byeongsanseowon were cut down and authorities built a defense line by soaking the felled trees to contain the wildfire The fire authorities took similar firefighting measures at Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy with the fire pump system and more than 10 fire trucks soaking the cultural heritage site to prevent wooden buildings from catching fire Wildfires in southeastern South Korea burned through 48,238 hectares — an area equivalent to about 80 percent of the size of Seoul — despite a week of containment efforts claiming 30 lives and injuring 45 as of Sunday morning The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced that all the wildfires that had raged across the Gyeongsang provinces were fully contained as of Sunday afternoon The wildfires forced more than 37,000 people to evacuate and damaged some 6,100 private and public facilities Street vendor Kim Min-jeong hands out hotteok at Andong Gymnasium on March 31 to volunteers and evacuees affected by the wildfire that blazed through Andong National South Korea battles wildfires spreading in southeastern region Wildfires started in Uiseong-gun spread to Andong-si Wildfires in southeastern South Korea were spreading fast for the third consecutive days with dry conditions and strong winds hindering firefighting efforts sparking fears about the safety of the residents A total of 6,453 firefighters and 107 fire helicopters were deployed to the sites to combat the fast-moving fires as of Monday afternoon with thick smoke limiting helicopter access and strong winds fueling the fire’s spread Additional evacuation alerts were sent to Andong-si North Gyeongsang Province -- a city which lies adjacent to Uiseong-gun -- as the strong winds fueled the wildfires to spread to the city The affected area spans about 8,732 hectares almost a 5,000-hectare increase from the figure announced by the Interior Ministry on Sunday The ministry said a total of five large- and medium-scale wildfires -- in Sancheong-gun and the city of Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province Okcheon-gun in North Chungcheong Province and Ulju-gun a western district in Ulsan -- claimed the lives of four wildfire responders and civil servants It said the medium-sized wildfires in Gimhae and Okcheon-gun were extinguished Monday morning Uiseong-gun and Ulju-gun are yet to be fully contained another county located close to Uiseong-gun planning measures to respond to the spreading fire and ensure residents’ safety who was reinstated as the country's acting president on Monday morning North Gyeongsang Province were added to the list of special disaster zones The Interior Ministry explained that the decision was made as the scale of damage grew including large-scale forest loss and the increasing number of wildfire victims With the weekend wildfires forcing almost 800 residents to evacuate their homes then-acting President Choi Sang-mok initially designated Sancheong-gun a special disaster zone on Saturday directing different ministries and government organizations to speed up recovery efforts and provide more comprehensive support for victims Negligence is suspected as the cause of the series of wildfires over the weekend that swept through hundreds of hectares in the country’s southeast according to the police and fire authorities Investigations have yet to begin as the fires are not yet fully contained but the police and fire agencies tentatively speculated that various human activities started the large-scale wildfires in Sancheong-gun Uiseong-gun and Ulju-gun after verifying reports they received The police said they received a call from a local resident in Sancheong-gun claiming that sparks from a brush cutter used at a local farm started the fire plan to investigate the circumstances to determine the exact cause The police believe the wildfires in Uiseong-gun and Ulju-gun were caused by human activity as well Individuals who visited an ancestor’s grave in Uiseong-gun reported to the local fire agency that they accidentally started a fire while tidying up the cemetery on Saturday The police also secured testimony that a man in his 60s may have caused the fire in Ulju-gun while using welding equipment A private hanok (traditional Korean house) where guests can stay overnight at the Rakkojae Hanok Hotel in Andong [LEE JIAN] The lobby of the Rakkojae Hanok Hotel in Andong [LEE JIAN] Inside a room at the Rakkojae Hanok Hotel in Andong [LEE JIAN] Breakfast at the Rakkojae Hanok Hotel in Andong [LEE JIAN] A view of the Andong from the hotel compound [LEE JIAN] Ancient art is scattered around the hotel compound and rooms and CEO Michael Ahn at the Rakkojae Hanok Hotel in Andong [LEE JIAN] otherwise known as a traditional Korean sauna at the Rakkojae Hanok Hotel in Andong [LEE JIAN] A room at the Rakkojae Hanok Hotel in Andong with a bathtub [LEE JIAN] The view from a pavilion at the Rakkojae Hanok Hotel in Andong [LEE JIAN] Life&Culture Silla temple burned to ground as fires threaten UNESCO sites Hahoe Village in Andong brace for direct hit was burned to the ground as wildfires rage across southeastern Korea and now threaten two UNESCO-listed sites in Andong in the same province Forest officials announced the temple was completely destroyed at 4:50 p.m built in 681 during the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–935 AD) books and statues earlier in the day as a precaution the agency handling cultural heritage across the country said late Tuesday that it had sent a team of officials and experts to Byeongsanseowon a 17th-century Confucian academy on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list now at risk “We have fire helicopters ready near the Nakdong River,” a KHS official said of preparations underway should fires approach the old academy compound referring to firefighters’ plan to draw water from the country’s longest river While local governments typically respond to emergencies like this Byeongsanseowon is a state-designated historic site that warrants KHS intervention The agency said similar preparations are underway for Hahoe Village is home to descendants of the Ryu clan of Pungsan seven out of 10 village people now carrying the family name Ryu “Fire trucks and firefighters are standing ready,” the official said About 150 people from the village have been evacuated five counts of damage to cultural heritage maintained by the government have been reported so far Gangwon Province; a natural monument in Hadong-gun South Gyeongsang Province; two structures at a Goryeo shrine compound in South Gyeongsang Province; a natural monument in Ulju-gun The wildfires in the Gyeongsang provinces are a greater threat to natural monuments than other forms of heritage because recovery is harder The Hadong ginkgo trees in South Gyeongsang and the Ulsan evergreen trees — the natural monuments that sustained partial damage — will need some time to grow back one of a kind along the country’s eastern coast are significant ecologically as well as historically Netflix's 'The Devil’s Plan' returns with star-packed season 2 Seoul to host inaugural 'MyK Festa' in June 'Smile at me': Cancer-fighting senior influencer inspires with strength Yoo Seung-ho returns to stage as Brutus in reimagining of 'Julius Caesar' [Photo News] Korea gears up to celebrate Buddha's birthday Life&Culture Firefighters race to protect cultural heritage One of the deadliest wildfires in South Korean history has culture officials scrambling to protect cultural heritage in the country’s southeastern region ravaged by the fast-burning blazes the agency handling sites and items of historic importance have raised the four-level disaster alert to its highest level for the first time in response to the fires which began Friday in the Gyeongsang provinces is a response to the growing tally of damage to cultural heritage 15 counts of heritage damage including two state-designated treasures have been reported so far the agency has relocated 651 such treasures Among them are Goryeo-era (918-1392) woodblocks at the temple Buseoksa another temple built in 681 during the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–935 AD) in the same province Many of its artifacts had been moved out of the temple Monday as a precautionary measure Some at-risk cultural heritage has survived the fire remained unscathed by the ravaging fires Tuesday Flame-resistant cloth that covered the structure was instrumental in preventing it from succumbing to fire “This cloth shields against fires up to 700 degrees Celsius We’re guessing Tuesday’s fires fell a little short of that,” one of them said Culture officials are now focusing on protecting two UNESCO-listed sites in Andong North Gyeongsang Province: Byeongsanseowon trucks and firefighters are drawing water from the Nakdong River Korea’s longest river is the best defense fire authorities can tap into according to culture officials on the ground “We have 22 fire trucks and over 140 firefighters standing guard,” one official said inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2019 a pavilion that is a state-designated treasure Historic signboards on the compound have already been moved to the nearby World Confucian Culture Museum with seven out of 10 villagers now carrying the family name Ryu The village was settled beginning in the 14th century at the earliest About 150 people from the village were evacuated late Tuesday The village has four buildings that are state-designated treasures Also in Andong is “Jingbirok,” a 16th-century book by Joseon-era (1392-1910) scholar Yu Seong-ryong called “The Book of Correction.” The firsthand account explores Japan’s invasion in 1592 and what could be done to avoid future incursions It is kept at the Korean Studies Institute Eleven “hahoetal” and two “byeongsantal” — masks used in the traditional Korean dance “talchum” — are held at the Andong City Museum A museum official said the masks will be moved to the nearby Daegu National Museum National Night of valor: Fire responders' all-night battle to protect heritage from wildfires the flames in southeastern South Korea at one point threatened UNESCO-listed Hahoe Village and Byeongsanseowon South Korean firefighters dispatched to Juwangsan National Park kept an all-night watch into Thursday as the flames that have been burning the country's mid-section for five days and nights reached within 4 kilometers of the historic temple of Daejeonsa at one point have destroyed multiple national treasures and historical sites razing 36,000 hectares of forest and killing at least 26 people Eighty-five employees of the Korea National Park Service have been dispatched to protect the temple in Cheongsong-gun The fire authorities and the park service officials moving the relicts to safe locations and removing fire hazards and trees next to the temple The blaze has halted its progress toward the temple but the officials are still on full alert for potential development in the ongoing disaster Firefighting authorities have also been dispatched to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hahoe Village in Andong-gun Flames came within 10 kilometers of the village which is known for its preservation of Korea's traditional culture and buildings 20 firetrucks and 130 firefighters had been mobilized at one point to protect the heritage site with officials pouring water on the haystacks and thatched roofs of traditional buildings Some 150 residents of the village received multiple evacuation orders although several have stayed to watch over the fires Wildfires had spread to within 3 kilometers of the Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy But the wind blew the flames away from the academy and the fire in the area has been receding as of Thursday morning The Byeongsanseowon is also a UNESCO World Heritage site being one of the Confucian academies inscribed in 2019 the authorities are keeping watch over the historical sites in the Andong-gun in case the flames start approaching them again They are hoping to spare the historic buildings from the fate of Gounsa — a temple founded in 681 AD — which was destroyed in the fires in nearby Uiseong-gun the massive fires in five regions further north in the northern part of North Gyeongsang Province have been the most damaging of the recent string of wildfires Authorities estimated that the fires there have been 44.3 percent contained as of Thursday morning The fire in Andong-gun is currently 52 percent contained while flames in Cheongsong-gun are 77 percent contained Restoration construction is underway at Imcheonggak in Andong a traditional Korean house of the aristocrat Seokju Lee Sang-ryong (1858-1932) in an undated photo provided by the city government A photo provided by the Andong city government shows Imcheonggak with 99 rooms before parts of it were demolished by the Japanese government Seokju Lee Sang-ryong [ANDONG CITY GOVERNMENT] Today's print edition Home Delivery Wildfires in South Korea are now "the largest on record" having burned more forest than any previous blaze the country's disaster chief said Thursday More than a dozen fires broke out over the weekend forcing around 27,000 people to urgently evacuate with the fire cutting off roads and downing communications lines as residents fled in panic.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); eight are seriously injured and 22 have been lightly injured," said Lee Han-kyung "The forest damage has reached 35,810 hectares already exceeding the area affected by the 2000 east coast wildfire In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. A wildfire burns on a mountain ridge in Giran-myeon, Andong in North Gyeongsang on March 25. The fire started in Uiseong on Saturday. [NEWS1] A vehicle patrols Giran-myeon in Andong, North Gyeongsang on March 25 as the Uiseong fire reaches the city. [NEWS1] A helicopter drops fire retardants on a mountain ridge in Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang on March 25. [YONHAP] A visitor pays his condolences to firefighters and a public official who lost their lives while containing a wildfire in Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang, at a memorial altar in Changnyeong County in the same province on March 25. [YONHAP] To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts. ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool, NAVER papago. This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a building destroyed by wildfires at the Namhu Agricultural Industrial Complex in Andong City, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 28, with 37 others injured, in South Korea's worst-ever wildfires, government compilation showed Friday. (Xinhua/Jun Hyosang) SEOUL, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to 28, with 37 others injured, in South Korea's worst-ever wildfires, government compilation showed Friday. Since March 21, infernos had broken out in 11 areas, mostly in the southeastern Gyeongsang province, and five of them were completely extinguished, according to the central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters. In the remaining six areas, 83 percent of the fires were put out on average at 5:00 a.m. local time. The blazes affected at least 48,150.61 hectares of woodland, marking the country's worst-ever wildfire damage. The previous high was in 2000 when 23,794 hectares of land were ravaged. Of the wounded, nine people suffered serious injuries. Most of the victims were those aged 60 or higher, according to the headquarters. The number of affected buildings and structures, such as houses and agricultural facilities, advanced to 3,481, while 23 cultural assets were destroyed. Still displaced were 8,078 people of 2,407 households. Firefighters struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. The country's forest service raised the wildfire crisis alert to the highest level on Tuesday. More than 8,100 people, including firefighters, soldiers, police officers and government officials, as well as 109 helicopters and 967 firefighting equipments were mobilized to combat the wildfires. ■ This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a wildfire in Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 28, with 37 others injured, in South Korea's worst-ever wildfires, government compilation showed Friday. (Xinhua/Jun Hyosang) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a building destroyed by wildfires at the Namhu Agricultural Industrial Complex in Andong City, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Evacuees of a wildfire rest at a community hall used as a shelter in Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, March 27, 2025. A firefighter checks fire prevention facilities at the Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Andong City, South Korea, March 28, 2025. The death toll rose to 28, with 37 others injured, in South Korea's worst-ever wildfires, government compilation showed Friday. The country's forest service raised the wildfire crisis alert to the highest level on Tuesday. More than 8,100 people, including firefighters, soldiers, police officers and government officials, as well as 109 helicopters and 967 firefighting equipment were mobilized to combat the wildfires. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) Firefighters carry out fire prevention work at the Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Andong City, South Korea, March 28, 2025. Firefighters carry out fire prevention work around the Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Andong City, South Korea, March 28, 2025. Fire engines are on standby at the Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Andong City, South Korea, March 28, 2025. A firefighter carries out fire prevention work at the Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Andong City, South Korea, March 28, 2025. ‘We are nationally in a critical situation’, says acting president as blaze doubles Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. ‘We are nationally in a critical situation’ Wildfires raging in South Korea doubled in size today with authorities calling them the country’s worst fire disaster on record more than 35,810 hectares (88,488 acres) of land in the southeast has been scorched The fire that began in Uiseong county is now the biggest single forest fire in South Korea’s history surpassing the 24,000-hectare blaze of March 2000 At least 27 people were confirmed dead including a pilot of a firefighting helicopter which crashed yesterday Hundreds of structures have been burnt or damaged, including historic 7th-century Buddhist temple that was reduced to ashes as the fire continued to expand “We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires,” acting president Han Duck Soo said at a government response meeting The Uiseong fire spread rapidly on Wednesday While light rain is forecast in the southwest most affected areas are expected to receive less than 5mm Wildfires raging in South Korea doubled in size today from a day earlier as authorities called the blazes the country's worst fire disaster More than 35,000 hectares (88,000 acres) have been charred or were still burning in the largest of the fires that began in the central Uiseong county making it the biggest single forest fire in South Korea's history The previous record was 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres) in a March 2000 fire The wildfires that originated in Uiseong have been moving rapidly eastward carried by gusty winds and with dry conditions aggravating the situation The Uiseong fire began spreading quickly yesterday reaching the coastal county of Yeongdeok 51km (32 miles) away in just 12 hours director of satellite imagery analysis for the national forestry service South Korea's acting president Han Duck-soo called the wildfires “unprecedented” yesterday and said the crisis was “rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation's history” "There are concerns that we'll have wildfire damages that we've never experienced so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week." Speaking at a government response meeting today he said: "We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires." The military has released stocks of aviation fuel to help keep firefighting helicopters flying to douse flames across mountainous regions in the southeast of the country where fires have been burning now for nearly a week More than 120 helicopters have been deployed in three regions battling the blazes South Korea relies on helicopters to fight forest fires because of its mountainous terrain A helicopter pilot died yesterday after crashing while trying to tackle a blaze Over 300 structures, including houses, factories and a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple have been destroyed, officials said on Wednesday. The Gounsa temple, founded in 681 during the Silla Dynasty, was destroyed in Uiseong. Heritage officials said some of the site’s national treasures, including an eighth-century stone Buddha statue, were removed before the flames reached the main wooden buildings. The cause of the wildfire isn't clear yet, but it is suspected that the fires were triggered by human activity, possibly sparks from welding or people clearing dry grass near ancestral tombs, some reports said. However, officials say the rapid spread of the flames and unprecedented scale was a result of unusually hot and dry conditions. "This wildfire has once again exposed the harsh reality of a climate crisis unlike anything we've experienced before," disaster chief Lee said. "The affected areas have seen only half the average rainfall, coupled with unusually strong winds, which have drastically accelerated the spread of the fire and intensified the damage," he said. Higher temperatures amplified by human-caused climate change contributed to the existing seasonally dry conditions, "turning dry landscapes into dangerous fire fuel" in the region, the Climate Central group, an independent body made up of scientists and researchers, said in a report. The wildfires have carved a trail of devastation through an area equivalent to about half the area of Singapore, ravaging everything in their path including historic temples and homes in the mountainous forest regions of North Gyeongsang province. Teams of firefighters are on standby to protect the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy in the city of Andong, if a blaze jumps the stream that flows around them. The picturesque folk village has traditional Korean houses, many with thatched roofs, while the Confucian academy dates back more than 450 years. The fires have already badly damaged other historic sites, including much of Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, which was built in 681. "The buildings and remains of what Buddhist monks have left over 1,300 years are now all gone," said Deungwoon, the head of the Gounsa Temple. Death toll from South Korea's wildfires rose to 27 today as officials confirmed three more deaths. The fatalities include a pilot whose helicopter crashed during efforts to contain a fire yesterday and four firefighters and other workers who died earlier after being trapped by fast-moving flames. Authorities haven't disclosed details of the civilian dead, except that they are mostly in their 60s or older who found it difficult to escape quickly or who even refused orders to evacuate. They suspect human error caused several of the wildfires, including cases where people started fires while clearing overgrown grass from family tombs or with sparks during welding work. The current wildfires in South Korea and California this year are part of a growing global pattern driven by climate change, according to experts. “Only three months into 2025, we’ve already witnessed record-breaking wildfire activity in multiple regions,” said Dr Kimberley Simpson, fellow at the University of Sheffield’s School of Biosciences. “As climate change drives rising temperatures and alters rainfall patterns, the conditions that give rise to these devastating fires are becoming more frequent.” Dr Simpson said that both California’s January fires and South Korea’s ongoing blazes were preceded by unusually warm, dry weather, leaving vegetation dangerously flammable. “Strong winds in both cases spread the flames rapidly and made firefighting far more difficult,” she said. Older1 / 2Newer{"liveBlogId":2020300,"initialPosts":[{"type":"post","data":{"name":"2020300","title":"South Korea's wildfire doubles up in size becomes the largest on record","id":2020306,"uuid":"6c9b83da-ba9c-49a3-97c3-60bfaee2adae","scheduleTime":"0","created":"1743062280","changed":"1743062280","container":2020300,"user":{"name":"Stuti Mishra"},"extra":{"authorName":"Stuti Mishra"}},"postJson":[{"type":"markup","data":{"markup":"Wildfires raging in South Korea doubled in size today from a day earlier \"There are concerns that we'll have wildfire damages that we've never experienced so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week.\" he said: \"We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires.\" A burnt-out house in a destroyed village is seen in Cheongsong Smoke rises from burning trees as a wildfire is reflected in the waters of the Nakdong River in Andong A man walks near a burnt-out house in a damaged village in Yeongyang A wildfire is seen next to a stone lantern of family tomb in Andong Over 300 structures, including houses, factories and a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple have been destroyed, officials said on Wednesday. The Gounsa temple, founded in 681 during the Silla Dynasty, was destroyed in Uiseong. Heritage officials said some of the site’s national treasures, including an eighth-century stone Buddha statue, were removed before the flames reached the main wooden buildings. \"This wildfire has once again exposed the harsh reality of a climate crisis unlike anything we've experienced before,\" disaster chief Lee said. \"The affected areas have seen only half the average rainfall, coupled with unusually strong winds, which have drastically accelerated the spread of the fire and intensified the damage,\" he said. Higher temperatures amplified by human-caused climate change contributed to the existing seasonally dry conditions, \"turning dry landscapes into dangerous fire fuel\" in the region, the Climate Central group, an independent body made up of scientists and researchers, said in a report. The wildfires have carved a trail of devastation through an area equivalent to about half the area of Singapore, ravaging everything in their path including historic temples and homes in the mountainous forest regions of North Gyeongsang province. \"The buildings and remains of what Buddhist monks have left over 1,300 years are now all gone,\" said Deungwoon, the head of the Gounsa Temple. Pavilions are seen at the Gounsa temple in Uiseong, South Korea They suspect human error caused several of the wildfires, including cases where people started fires while clearing overgrown grass from family tombs or with sparks during welding work. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics"},{"score":0.894126,"label":"/law ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool The North and South Gyeongsang regions are home to numerous historical and cultural assets The massive blaze prompted authorities to take urgent measures to relocate them or protect them from the fires as much as possible "The wildfire is currently about 8 kilometers from Hahoe Village," an official at the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said adding that fire trucks and dozens of firefighters are on standby and spraying water around the premise to prevent the fire from spreading The KHS said it is relocating key cultural artifacts in case the situation worsens It has raised its own disaster alert level to "serious," the first time the institution has ever done so The justice ministry began to transfer some 3,500 inmates from correctional facilities in Cheongsong and Andong to nearby prisons as the wildfires were spreading fast around the region A 65-year-old woman was found burned to death on a roadside in Cheongsong Police believe that she was killed while evacuating the area by car March 28 (Yonhap) -- Acting President Han Duck-soo visited Andong on Friday one of a number of cities in the southeast devastated by this week's wildfires Han visited a wildfire command center to be briefed by forestry and government officials on the containment rate and relief efforts for displaced people the military and local government personnel and asked that they continue to do their best until the blazes are completely extinguished Han also asked for thorough evacuation procedures for vulnerable citizens noting that many of those killed or injured in the wildfires were in their 60s or older and called for special care to provide temporary shelters and essential items for displaced people the acting president visited an indoor gym housing the displaced residents to offer his comfort and promise the government's full support until recovery from the wildfire damage is complete an average of 94 percent of wildfires across five cities and counties in North Gyeongsang Province Acting President Han Duck-soo (L) meets with people displaced by wildfires at an indoor gym in Uiseong March 25 (Yonhap) -- Residents of the southeastern city of Andong have been advised to evacuate to safe locations as wildfires continue to spread across the region located about 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul issued the evacuation order to all citizens as wildfires from the southeastern county of Uiseong spread into the area due to strong winds and dry weather conditions "Wildfires are rapidly spreading due to strong winds," Andong city said in a disaster alert sent to residents a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site designated in 2010 and one of South Korea's most popular tourist attractions as wildfires spread across the region on March 25 The Embassy of Israel in South Korea has donated relief supplies to support local residents affected by the devastating wildfires in the Yeongnam region, said the Israeli Embassy in Seoul on Friday. The assistance, provided through MASHAV, Israel’s official aid agency, aims to help displaced residents in Andong recover from the disaster. Sharing a press statement with The Korea Herald, the embassy said that relief supplies coordinated through the Korean Red Cross will be used for disaster recovery efforts in Andong, a city that shares a sister-city relationship with Holon, Israel. According to the embassy, the partnership has fostered strong cultural ties, with Andong Park established in Holon in 2002 and Holon Park inaugurated in Andong in the same year. The cities formalized their friendship agreement in 2004. “We extend our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to the victims' families and residents affected by the unprecedented wildfires,” said Israeli Ambassador to Korea Rafael Harpaz. Israel stands in solidarity with the Korean people during this challenging time, said Harpaz. “We commend the bravery and tireless efforts of the firefighters and emergency responders working to contain the fires and protect lives and property,” added the ambassador. Interviews and stories about the diplomatic corps in Seoul. CJ ENM, Amazon Prime sign deal to increase K-content access Venezuela, Korea mark 60 years of ties with sculpture Time to stimulate India-Korea links through Buddhism, traditional medicine [Bridge to Africa] Rwanda honors 1994 genocide victims, calls for lessons from history Koryo saram are 'living bridges' of Kazakh-Korean ties, say young leaders Indian Embassy, Dongguk University team up for Buddha’s Birthday [Bridge to Africa] Morocco-Korea cooperation essential bridge for global trade, says minister [Herald Interview] Expert urges German, S. Korean support for ICC in Trump era [Contribution] Three decades of friendship: Egypt, Korea moving forward together Kazakhstan vows stronger interethnic harmony Diplomats urge removing ICC jurisdiction limits at Seoul event Features and interviews on drug crimes and young addicts’ stories in South Korea. The Korea Herald by Herald Corporation. Copyright Herald Corporation. All Rights Reserved. A traditional house in Hahoe Village | © Mimsie Ladner Today, it is a popular destination thanks to the beautifully preserved choga (traditional houses with straw-thatched roofs) that make up the village, as well as the age-old customs that are upheld by the residents that live in them Although the homes now have modern amenities (such as electricity and cable) they continue to provide a peek into South Korea’s not-so-distant rural past In addition to touring the homes, restaurants, and workshops of this quaint village, guests can also sleep here, too and boutique hotels that invite visitors to enjoy this unique cultural experience with the most famous guest of honor being Queen Elizabeth II who celebrated her 73rd birthday here in 1999 View Tours >> Scarecrows watch over Andong’s Hahoe Village | © Mimsie Ladner Take a shot of soju Korea’s infamous soju – the local firewater that is often the main attraction of company dinners and outings with friends – was born in the 13th century when Mongol invaders brought arak’s distillation methods to the Andong region Traditional soju is to this day produced in Andong ubiquitous green bottles made from diluted ethanol produced from sweet potatoes this regional specialty is created using a blend of fermented and distilled rice and grains Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy View Tours >> Located at the foothills of Hwasan Mountain, Hahoe Village boasts a number of exquisite scenic sights. In fact, its name translates to ‘Village Enveloped by Water,’ referring to the Nakdong River which flows around the perimeter of the town To experience Andong in all its natural beauty take a ferry from the village across the river to Buyongdae This 64-meter-high cliff is easily accessible and offers a bird’s eye view of the traditional homes of Haehoe Village below View Tours >> Often associated with Korea’s iconic wooden masks, Andong is also home to the Maskdance Festival which is held every September or October to celebrate the city’s folk traditions including talchum a form of storytelling through dance in which the participants wear masks Ahead of the festival, stop by the Hahoe Mask Museum where you can get a better understanding of the time-honored Korean masks as well as the storylines of the various mask dances View Tours >> Andong has no shortage of regional culinary specialties including gan godeungeo (salted mackerel) and heotjesabap (various funerary foods) but its real gastronomic gem is jjimdalk a braised chicken and vegetable stew served with cellophane noodles in a soy sauce-based broth The slurp-worthy sauce is a perfect mix of savory and spicy that promises to have you eating your way into a food coma Sample the dish at the Andong Market at the center of town where dozens of restaurateurs serve up the specialty each refining the ingredients to their own versions of perfection one of the oldest restaurants in the area and situated near the entrance of the market is a good place to try the traditional dish View Tours >> Get spiritual at Bongjeongsa Temple While the majority of the city’s tourist attractions are associated with the Confucian Joseon Dynasty, Bongjeongsa Temple dates back to the preceding Goryeo Dynasty, an era when Buddhism was the country’s primary religion Don’t miss Geungnakjeon (or ‘Nirvana Hall’) the temple also boasts a number of interesting architectural works from the early and mid-Joseon era A particularly noteworthy area of interest is Yeongsanam a 19th-century hermitage situated just outside the main temple From Cheongnyangni Station, seven trains run daily between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., while one train runs daily from Seoul Station. Travel time is four to five hours. For faster transport, take bus #13 from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal See & Do 10 of the Oldest Cities in the World See & Do The 8 Most Beautiful Places to See Cherry Blossoms in South Korea Guides & Tips 6 Things to See and Do in Andong Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in November See & Do The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in South Korea in the Spring Guides & Tips The Most Beautiful Islands in South Korea Guides & Tips 13 Hilarious Arabic Swear Words and Phrases Architecture The Most Amazing Buildings In Seoul Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in October Guides & Tips A Hiker's Guide to Jeju Island See & Do The Best Places for an Asian Spring Break See & Do The Best Things to See and Do in Haeundae US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd March 29 (Yonhap) -- Wildfires reignited in the southeastern part of the country overnight and firefighting helicopters were dispatched to extinguish them An official with Gyeongbuk Fire Service Headquarters said reports of smoke in Andong some 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul in North Gyeongsang Province Forestry officials believe the fire reignited around 3 a.m A firefighting helicopter tries to extinguish a wildfire in Andong blocked off a section of a nearby highway at 5 a.m With vehicles unable to reach the mountainous areas helicopters were called in to contain the fire Officials said fires had also restarted in other parts of the province Regional officials called in firefighting helicopters along with 230 firefighters and public servants and 50 soldiers a fire that started near a transmission tower around 9 p.m Cheongsong officials warned residents to brace for a possible power outage The Korea Forest Service had announced wildfires in North Gyeongsang had been fully brought under control as of 5 p.m after killing or injuring dozens of people and forcing thousands of others to flee equivalent to some 80 percent of the size of Seoul have been scorched in the worst wildfire disaster ever in South Korea Although a forest fire is spreading throughout Uiseong County in North Gyeongsang Province some local residents are refusing to leave their beloved homes Seo and his family of three stayed in their home even after receiving an emergency text alert to evacuate Seo said that he spent the entire previous night turning on and off 10 sprinklers around his property then of course we’ll have to leave,” he said “There is nothing more important than a human life but I want to stick by my house until the last moment the surrounding mountains were smothered in clouds of smoke and the fire started creeping its way toward the village They ran outside the house and watched helplessly from across the street as firefighters sprayed water on their home to put the fire out who splits his time between Pohang and Andong “I was watching news about the Uiseong fire and I heard our neighborhood mentioned I was worried so I came home yesterday afternoon (Monday).” but I thought I needed to keep an eye on things through to the end,” he said but it was right in my backyard before I knew it,” he added After the Uiseong fire spread to the rural village of Hyeonha which falls in the township of Giran in Andong all the residents of Giran and some of the residents of the nearby Namseon and Imha villages had to evacuate CCTV footage from the Jungang Expressway near Namhu in Andong shows fires burning off the shoulder of the highway Pungcheon is home to the UNESCO World Heritage sites Hahoe Village and Byeongsan Seowon a Confucian academy dating back to the 1500s Residents who fled their homes to avoid the inferno had only two or three days to evacuate Andong Gymnasium in Andong’s Unheong neighborhood was full of people who had evacuated their homes because of the Uiseong fire “This is the first time I’ve experienced anything like this,” repeatedly massaging her aching leg This was already the second evacuation for Kim and other Baekja residents Upon hearing news that the fire could spread to the village they fled to the local community center and to Giran Elementary School on Sunday night they returned to their homes upon hearing things had improved The police had to come and carry me out [because I have trouble walking].”  forgot her diabetes medication during both evacuations I was about to eat lunch when I got the alert I didn’t realize I’d left behind my medicine until much later,” she said but the fire just keeps spreading whichever way the wind blows.” “I’m praying that the only home I have isn’t burned down,” they said As fierce winds carried the fires into new areas regional highways and train lines were shut down The Korea Expressway Corporation announced at 5 pm Tuesday that 94 kilometers of highway from the Seosan-Yeongdeok Expressway’s West Uiseong Interchange and the Yeongdeok Interchange and 37.7 kilometers of highway from the Jungang Expressway’s Uiseong Interchange to the West Andong Interchange had been completely shut down to traffic The Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) announced that the fire had spread to the Hahwa Tunnel area on the central Jungang railway line between Andong to Uiseong and that it had shut down the railway line from Andong to Gyeongju Four high-speed railways and three standard railways were shut down on Tuesday When the fire spread all the way to Cheongsong prison authorities decided to evacuate inmates in the correctional institution formerly known as Cheongsong Prison as well as those serving time at Andong Prison The Korea Correctional Service ordered buses to be dispatched to Cheongsong Prison and its affiliated vocational training center They were transferred to 14 facilities operated by the Daegu Regional Correction Headquarters Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr] (ATTN: CHANGES headline; UPDATES with more info in paras 2-3) March 26 (Yonhap) -- Tensions are rising around Hahoe Folk Village in the southeastern city of Andong on Wednesday as wildfires that started in nearby Uiseong County last week are approaching the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site The city sent out emergency text alerts to residents near Hahoe Village and Byeongsan Seowon at around 8:20 p.m advising them to take shelter as the wildfires approached the area "Our drone detected temperatures of around 40 degrees (C) at a location four kilometers from Byeongsan Seowon so we advised residents to evacuate," an official said is one of the most famous and popular folk villages in South Korea and was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2010 It preserves houses and traditions from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) Firefighters spray water on houses of Hahoe Folk Village in the southeastern city of Andong on March 26 The forest fire broke out in Uiseong's Ansa district and smoke has flowed into the village along the direction of the wind The village's 200 or so residents have been evacuated to a safe place since early Wednesday morning and the village itself is currently deserted Smoke began to slowly flow into the village at around 10 a.m. and the concentration thickened after noon The village was covered with thick gray smoke and the smell was so pungent that it was difficult to breathe without a mask Authorities mobilized 14 firefighting vehicles and 98 personnel to prevent Hahoe village from any possible fire-related damage Firefighters have been busy spraying water and flame retardant over Hahoe village houses and the pine forest around the village every two hours