Collapsed in Flames... Euljiro Merchants Devastated

"The whole neighborhood has collapsed."

The area around the old buildings near Sewoon Daerim Shopping Center in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul, turned into ruins after a fire that lasted over 12 hours. When I visited on the 29th, the site was nothing but ashes. The burnt shops had roofs that had collapsed and walls that were shattered, making it impossible to recognize their original form. Only the charred pieces of signboards hinted that there had been shops here. Debris of burnt steel bars was scattered around the shopping center. Even 200 meters away, the acrid smell was noticeable with every breath. The air was so pungent that it stung the throat when the mask was lowered. The sound of residents coughing was incessant.

Residents were anxious about the unknown cause of the fire and the uncertain life they would face for the time being. Mr. Lee (72) said, "The smoke directly hit our house, making it impossible to stay there, so I sleep at a nearby accommodation," adding, "The dust mask turned black in just one hour, and even blocking the window cracks with a wet cloth couldn't stop the ashes from coming in." Mr. Yoo (73), who has lived in Euljiro for nearly 20 years, said, "There are places that have been vacant for 3 to 4 years because some shop owners have passed away, so they might not have been properly managed," expressing concern, "The fire department will reveal the cause of the fire, but it might not be easy."

Because the fire started in old buildings awaiting redevelopment, public anxiety was particularly high. Mr. Kwon (in his 60s), who has been running an electrical company for nearly 30 years, said, "Many places are remodeled hanok buildings, and once they catch fire, it's hard to control the flames. There were many vacant shops due to redevelopment, and as people left, they dumped trash, leaving too much flammable material," adding, "Plastic tents, fabric, and old tires are hard to extinguish once they catch fire."

Residents hoped for a quick recovery from the damage. Mr. Baek (73) said, "About 30 households live here, and everyone's daily life has collapsed," adding, "There was a lot of worry about where and how to go when the fire broke out."


jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon, Choi Hye-rim