In March 2025, southeastern South Korea faced its most destructive wildfire disaster in recorded history. More than 48,000 hectares were consumed by flames, 32 lives were lost, and nearly 37,000 people displaced driven by record-breaking weather conditions linked to human-induced climate change.
Over a dozen wildfires erupted on March 22nd and 23rd, 2025, and rapidly spread due to scorching temperatures, dry conditions, and fierce winds. By the time the flames were contained, the fires had incinerated more than 48,000 hectares over 20,000 more than South Korea’s second-largest wildfire event in April 2022.
Uiseong County suffered the worst, recording 26 of the 32 deaths, with Sancheong reporting four more. In total, 45 people were injured and over 5,000 buildings including homes, farms, and factories were reduced to ashes.
The majority of victims were older adults in their 60s and 70s, living in rural or peri-urban areas. These communities often lie within the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where homes are situated next to flammable forests. Evacuation was especially challenging for people with limited mobility, and many could not escape in time.
Cultural Gounsa Temple and Heritage Sites Destroyed
Among the losses was the historic Gounsa Temple, originally built in 618 AD. At least 30 other cultural heritage sites, including artifacts from the Joseon dynasty, were destroyed in the blaze. These losses highlight the intersection between environmental risks and cultural preservation.
Record Fire Weather: Scientists Link Extreme Conditions to Climate Change
A global team of scientists from Korea, Europe, and the Americas conducted an in-depth attribution study to analyze the causes behind the extreme fire weather. They focused on the Hot-Dry-Windy Index (HDWI) a measure that multiplies wind speed with atmospheric dryness (influenced by temperature and humidity).
The study found:
- The fire-prone weather conditions had a 1-in-300 year probability in today’s climate.
- Global warming has made such extreme fire weather twice as likely.
- The HDWI was 25% more intense than it would have been in a pre-industrial climate.
- With continued warming, such events could become four times more likely by 2100.
February and March saw unusually low rainfall across Korea, further drying vegetation and increasing fire risk. While this drying trend appeared in some observational data, climate models failed to fully capture it possibly due to Korea’s complex geography and oceanic influences.
Forest Fuel: Tree-Planting Efforts Raise New Concerns
Since the 1970s, South Korea has planted billions of trees to reverse deforestation and sequester carbon. However, the continuous forest cover has created high fuel loads near towns and villages. Experts are now warning that, without regular maintenance, afforested areas can dramatically increase wildfire risk under extreme weather.
Strengths and Gaps: Korea’s Fire Response Under Review
South Korea has made impressive strides in fire detection, suppression, and early warning. Yet, experts emphasize the need to integrate wildfire risk into land-use planning, urban design, and emergency infrastructure particularly as climate change makes fire seasons longer and more intense.
The Bigger Picture: A Climate Warning
The March 2025 wildfires were not just a natural disaster they were climate-fueled and human-exacerbated. The combination of warming, unmanaged forest growth, and vulnerable communities turned a seasonal risk into a national catastrophe.
If current emissions and forest practices continue, experts warn that such “once-in-a-century” events will become the norm. Future resilience will depend on bold climate action, proactive land management, and protecting those most at risk.