Overview

• South Korean police suspect a man in his 50s of accidentally starting the country's largest wildfires while burning tree branches near a family gravesite on March 22.
• The fires have killed 30 people, displaced over 30,000 residents, and destroyed thousands of structures, including the historic 7th-century Gounsa Temple.
• Strong winds, ultra-dry conditions, and South Korea's hottest year on record in 2024 exacerbated the wildfires, which burned over 48,000 hectares of land.
• The suspect denies the allegations, but his daughter reportedly told investigators that flames from his actions were carried by the wind, sparking the fire.
• The disaster has exposed vulnerabilities in rural areas and intensified calls for systemic reforms to address climate change-driven disasters and improve wildfire response strategies.