Seoul Firefighters Save Hundreds in Shantytown Blaze

When fire broke out at 5am in Seoul's Guryong Village on Friday, 300 firefighters sprang into action to protect hundreds of vulnerable residents living in one of South Korea's last remaining shantytowns.

The massive response included 85 fire trucks and crews working to contain the blaze before it could spread to a nearby mountain. Despite challenging conditions that grounded helicopters, firefighters successfully evacuated all residents with zero casualties reported.

"I was asleep until a neighbour called saying there was a fire. I ran out and saw the flames already spreading," said Kim Ok-im, 69, who has called the village home for nearly 30 years. She and her neighbors made it out safely thanks to the swift emergency response.

Guryong Village sits on the edge of Gangnam, Seoul's wealthiest district. The community formed in the 1970s and 1980s when low-income residents were displaced during major city redevelopment for events like the Asian Games and Seoul Olympics.

The makeshift homes, built from materials like plywood and vinyl sheets, are densely packed and highly vulnerable to fire. About 336 households remain in the village, down from thousands in previous decades as residents have gradually relocated.

The Bright Side

This disaster could have been tragic, but the coordinated emergency response turned a potential catastrophe into a story of community resilience and professional heroism. The fire department's quick escalation to the second-highest alert level and deployment of hundreds of responders showed exactly how emergency systems should work.

The successful evacuation of elderly and vulnerable residents from densely packed housing demonstrates South Korea's commitment to protecting all its citizens, regardless of economic status. Every person who called a neighbor, every firefighter who battled the flames, and every official who coordinated the response played a part in ensuring zero lives were lost.

While the fire damaged homes in an already struggling community, the human cost could have been devastating. Instead, everyone made it out safely, giving these families the chance to rebuild.

Today, 300 firefighters reminded us that heroism isn't always dramatic rescues from burning buildings—sometimes it's the organized, professional response that prevents tragedy before it unfolds.