Published on January 16, 2026
A massive fire in a slum on the outskirts of the South Korean capital, Seoul, has destroyed homes and sent residents fleeing.
About 300 firefighters battled the blaze on Friday as it threatened the poor neighborhood of Guryeong in southern Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district. No injuries or deaths have been reported so far.
Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control after about six hours, according to officials.
Local fire chief Jeong Gwang-hun told reporters during a televised briefing that emergency teams were thoroughly searching all damaged buildings for possible victims.
More than 1,200 personnel, including firefighters and police officers, responded to the crisis, Jeong said, adding that the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The mountainous community has suffered frequent fires over the years, a risk experts link to overcrowded housing built with highly flammable materials.
Guryeong stands in stark contrast to Seoul’s neighborhoods, which feature lavish luxury apartments and high-end shopping centers, highlighting South Korea’s extreme wealth inequality.
The settlement was created as a shelter for those displaced during extensive urban development programs in the 1980s.
During this time, hundreds of thousands of Seoul residents were forced out of slums and poor neighborhoods, a process deemed necessary by the military-backed government to enhance the city’s appearance before visitors arrived for the 1988 Olympic Games.