April 1, 2025
SEOUL – 1st on-site joint investigation conducted to probe where, how fire started
The deadly wildfires in southeastern South Korea have been brought under control, but it could take 100 years for the ecosystem in the area affected by the wildfires to recover, according to forestry researchers.
Multiple reports on large wildfires — including a March 2025 report by the National Institute of Forest Science — emphasize that it requires over 30 years for structural recovery and up to 100 years for full ecological stabilization.
While the recovery varies by the type of living organisms — ranging from fish, marine invertebrates to insects, trees require decades to regrow and forest animals depend on sufficient habitat recovery. Soil restoration takes longer due to complex ecological processes.
Some international studies on woody biomass growth and postfire recovery — such as an April 2021 study in academic journal Forests and a September 2024 study in Ecosystems — estimate recovery in high-intensity fire areas may take over 90 years.
The Korea Forest Service and local governments reportedly estimated the wildfire damage reaching approximately 2 trillion won ($1.35 billion) on Monday, including damage to land and buildings.
Some estimates suggested that the total property damage from the latest wildfires could be similar to the combined financial loss caused by all wildfires in the past 30 years since 1995, which amounted to 2.45 trillion won, according to a local newspaper Munhwa Ilbo.
Meanwhile, the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency conducted its first on-site joint investigation in a wooded area in Goesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong-gun, to investigate a suspect in connection with the North Gyeongsang wildfire.
The joint investigation included the National Forensic Service, the National Institute of Forest Science, and fire authorities.
Using drones, the team examined the cause of the fire on the day it started and analyzed the direction in which the flames spread due to the wind.
National Forensic Service, police and fire authorities are scheduled to conduct a separate investigation for the wildfire started in Sancheong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province, which claimed four lives and injuring 10 people.
The police previously announced that they received a call from a local resident, claiming that sparks from a brush cutter used at a local farm started the fire. The authorities, having obtained testimony, plan to make an additional investigation and decide whether to book a suspect in relation to the claim.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters also called for speedy and comprehensive support for wildfire victims in the meeting held on the same day.
All 270,000 residents of cities and counties designated special disaster zones in North Gyeongsang Province will receive a one-time payment of 300,000 won ($203) from the provincial government’s emergency cash relief program. The provincial government of South Gyeongsang Province also announced Sunday that it would provide 300,000 won to all wildfire victims in the special disaster zones there as well.
Two provincial governments stated that they plan to request additional support from the central government.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also disclosed its measures to provide temporary housing for evacuees by using public rental housing provided rent-free for two years. Those who wish to apply for public housing can submit a request to their respective local government which will assess their eligibility.
The Land Ministry is set to provide a long-term, low-interest loan support when housing restoration is needed.
Foreign residents of areas designated special disaster zones — Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok in North Gyeongsang Province; Sancheong, Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province; and Ulsan’s Ulju — will be exempt from fees required for immigration-related applications, including visa extensions and citizenship applications, until April 30, according to the Ministry of Justice.
According to the Justice Ministry, it will help foreign seasonal workers who are unable to continue working due to the fires to transfer to other farms, stating that the same procedures will be followed when additional cities are designated as special disaster zones.
“Though the wildfires in southeastern South Korea are fully contained as of Sunday, the dry weather is expected to continue in April. As many mountains will be visited by nationwide hikers, especially in early April, wildfire prevention efforts, like mobile patrols, will be maintained,” the disaster authorities said in an official statement Monday.
“As the wildfires have become larger and spread at unprecedented speed, guidelines for public evacuation will be made and the response manuals of local governments will be updated to minimize damage.”
The wildfires in southeastern South Korea burned through 48,238 hectares — an area equivalent to about 80 percent of the size of Seoul — despite a week of containment efforts, claiming 30 lives and injuring 45 people.
The wildfires forced more than 37,000 people to evacuate and damaged some 6,400 private and public facilities.