Uiseong Wildfire Damage in Gyeongbuk, South Korea (March 2025)

The large wildfire that occurred in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk Province, in March 2025 caused significant damage to a wide area. Here's a detailed summary of the wildfire's containment, the extent of human and material damage, and the projected future imbalance in forest product supply.

Wildfire Containment:

• Containment Complete: On March 28, 2025, forestry authorities officially announced the containment of the main fire in Uiseong. The six-day firefighting operation involved the deployment of over 80 helicopters and more than 5,000 personnel.
• Difficult Firefighting Efforts: Strong winds, dry weather, and the vast forest area made firefighting efforts challenging. In particular, winds exceeding 10 meters per second caused the fire to spread rapidly.
• Assistance from Weather Conditions: Rain that began on the night of the 27th helped slow the fire's spread, positively impacting containment efforts.

Human and Material Damage:

• Human Casualties:
  • Deaths: 24 (including helicopter pilots and firefighters who died in a helicopter crash during firefighting operations)
  • Injuries: Numerous
• Material Damage:
  • Forest Damage: Approximately 45,000 hectares (156 times the size of Yeouido)
  • Housing and Facility Damage: Over 2,400 locations
  • Cultural Heritage Damage: Partial damage to cultural properties such as Gounsa Temple and Unramsa Temple, and damage to Manjisong pine trees.
  • Displaced Persons: Approximately 36,000 people

Future Forest Product Supply Imbalance Outlook:

• Difficulty in Harvesting Forest Products: Due to the extensive forest damage, harvesting forest products is expected to be difficult for the time being. In particular, the Uiseong area is a major producer of forest products such as matsutake mushrooms and wild greens, so the damage from this wildfire is expected to be even greater.
• Rise in Forest Product Prices: A rise in prices is inevitable due to the decrease in forest product production. This could burden consumers and affect related industries.
• Long-Term Impact: Forest recovery will take considerable time, so the imbalance in forest product supply is likely to persist for an extended period. Measures to address this situation are necessary.
• Impact on Local Economy: The decrease in forest product production could negatively impact the local economy. In particular, residents who rely on forest product harvesting for their livelihoods are expected to face difficulties.

Overall Impact:

The Uiseong wildfire has had a significant impact on the entire local community, beyond simple wildfire damage. In addition to human and property damage, economic difficulties due to the future imbalance in forest product supply are also expected. The government and related agencies will need to develop measures to stabilize the forest product supply from a long-term perspective, along with damage recovery.

Reference Materials:

• Korea Forest Service
• Various media reports