Overview

• The wildfires, South Korea's largest in recorded history, have killed 30 people, displaced tens of thousands, and burned over 48,000 hectares of land.
• A man in his 50s has been booked without detention on suspicion of accidentally starting the fires while performing an ancestral rite on March 22 in Uiseong County.
• The suspect reportedly tried to burn tree branches near a family grave, with flames allegedly carried by strong winds, though he denies the allegations.
• The fires destroyed approximately 4,000 structures, including the historic 7th-century Gounsa Temple, and exposed vulnerabilities in rural disaster preparedness.
• The disaster follows South Korea's hottest year on record in 2024, with prolonged dry conditions and strong winds exacerbating the spread of the fires.