Another fire breaks out in Guryong Village... Oh Se-hoon: “Mobilize all available personnel and equipment to put it out”

[Financial News] Another fire has broken out in Guryong Village, Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It comes about nine months after a major fire broke out there in January this year. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon urgently ordered that all available personnel and equipment be mobilized to quickly extinguish the fire and ensure residents’ safety.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a fire of unknown cause broke out at around 3:49 p.m. on the 27th in Guryong Village, Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu. Taking into account the area’s concentration of temporary structures, fire authorities proactively declared a Level 2 fire response and began firefighting operations.
As of 4:10 p.m., 191 firefighting personnel and 56 pieces of equipment had been deployed. No casualties have been confirmed so far. The extent of property damage and the exact cause of the fire are under investigation.
Immediately after the fire broke out, Mayor Oh ordered that “the lives and safety of citizens be prioritized, and all available personnel and equipment be mobilized to extinguish the fire quickly.” He also said, “Given that temporary structures made of flammable materials such as wood, vinyl and plywood are packed closely together and the flames could spread quickly, concentrate firefighting resources on the area.”
He instructed the Second Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs to go to the scene immediately, personally check on firefighting efforts and the evacuation of residents, and coordinate closely with relevant agencies, including the fire service, police and Gangnam-gu.
He also called for measures to prevent the fire from spreading into the forest, given Guryong Village’s proximity to woodland. Mayor Oh instructed Gangnam-gu’s Parks and Greenery Division to check conditions at the scene and take measures, including establishing a firebreak, to keep the flames from spreading to nearby forest.
Fire authorities are currently operating an emergency rescue control team at the scene and focusing on preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. They are also making every effort to ensure a stable supply of firefighting water and establish lines to contain the spread of the fire.
Police are restricting access to the fire scene and nearby roads, while Gangnam-gu has sent disaster safety text alerts to residents. A temporary medical station has been set up and the emergency medical response system activated in preparation for the possibility of multiple casualties.
Guryong Village is one of Seoul’s best-known unauthorized shantytowns, where major fires have repeatedly broken out because temporary structures are packed closely together. A major fire also broke out there in January this year, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate.
On January 20, 2023, a fire that started in District 4 of Guryong Village spread quickly to the surrounding area, destroying around 60 homes made of temporary structures and 2,700 square meters. Around 500 residents were evacuated urgently, and around 60 people from approximately 40 households were left displaced.
A series of fires, both large and small, had also occurred in Guryong Village before then. A fire in November 2014 burned 16 residential buildings and killed one resident. Another fire broke out in March 2017, and in March 2022 a fire spread to nearby forest. 
The recurring fires stem from Guryong Village’s structural vulnerability, with temporary structures packed closely together. Homes built from highly flammable materials such as wood, vinyl and plywood are crowded into a small area, creating a high risk that even a small spark could lead to a major fire. Old electrical equipment and tangled wiring have also been cited as fire risks.
Since the major fire in 2023, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has pursued the relocation of residents, including by developing measures to support deposits and rent for temporary housing for displaced people. At the time, Mayor Oh emphasized the need to swiftly advance the urban development project as a fundamental measure to ensure the safety of Guryong Village residents. 
However, as major fires have continued to recur this year, the importance of safety management and measures to protect residents and address Guryong Village’s vulnerability to fires is once again coming into focus.

[email protected] Lee Seol-yeong Reporter