Fire displaces nearly 50 in blaze at Seoul’s last major shanty town, Guryong village
A fire broke out in the early hours of 16 January in Seoul’s Guryong village, forcing nearly 50 people to evacuate as 300 firefighters battled the blaze in one of the city's last remaining shanty towns.
- Fire erupted around 5 a.m. on 16 January in Guryong village, displacing at least 47 residents.
- Nearly 300 firefighters and 85 vehicles were deployed, with helicopters on standby.
- The village, a remnant of 1980s forced relocations, remains vulnerable to fire due to flammable structures.
SOUTH KOREA: A major fire broke out early on 16 January, 2026, in Guryong village, a shanty town in southern Seoul, forcing the evacuation of at least 47 people from their homes.
The blaze, which began around 5 a.m. in the fourth district of the village, prompted authorities to dispatch 297 firefighters and 85 firefighting vehicles. Officials said no casualties had been reported as of Friday morning.
Guryong village, located near the affluent Gangnam district, is one of the last remaining informal settlements in the South Korean capital.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the fire was first reported in an unoccupied house. Firefighters quickly arrived on site and began efforts to contain the flames.
Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung issued an urgent directive for all available personnel and equipment to be mobilised for firefighting and rescue operations.
"Please check empty houses so that there are no casualties, and make sure that no firefighter is hurt while carrying out swift and thorough evacuation and firefighting efforts," Yun said in a statement.
Authorities initially issued a level 1 firefighting response at 5:10 a.m., later escalating it to level 2 at 8:49 a.m. to prevent the fire from spreading to a nearby mountain and the village’s fifth district.
Poor visibility has delayed the deployment of firefighting helicopters, though they remain on standby.
As part of emergency measures, traffic restrictions were imposed on parts of Yangjae-daero, a major road near the fire site, to facilitate access for emergency vehicles.
The Guryong village, which lies at the base of Mount Guryong, was established in the 1980s by residents displaced during urban development projects in Seoul.
Constructed with makeshift and flammable materials, many of the village’s homes are illegally built and prone to electrical faults, making the area highly vulnerable to fire.
The settlement stands in stark contrast to the neighbouring Gangnam district, which is known for some of the most expensive real estate in the country.
While redevelopment plans for Guryong have been under discussion for years, progress has been slow due to legal and administrative challenges, as well as concerns over the relocation of long-time residents.
Authorities have stated that an investigation into the cause of the fire will begin once the blaze is fully extinguished and the area is deemed safe.
0 Comments