Guryong Village Fire: A Major Blaze in Seoul’s Gangnam Shantytown

Advanced | January 18, 2026

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The Big Picture: The Guryong Village Fire in a Very Unlikely Place

A major early-morning fire ripped through Guryong Village, a low-income hillside community located inside Seoul’s wealthy Gangnam district. Even though Gangnam is famous for luxury apartments and high-end shopping, this small shantytown has remained for decades—and the Guryong Village fire reminded everyone how vulnerable the area still is. (Reuters, Jan 16, 2026)

What Happened (And How Fast It Spread)

According to South Korea’s National Fire Agency, the fire started just after 5 a.m. and was fully extinguished at 1:28 p.m.—about eight hours later. Officials reported no casualties, but 258 residents were evacuated from the affected area as thick smoke rose over the neighborhood. In other words, the Guryong Village fire was controlled before lives were lost, but it still displaced hundreds of people. (Reuters, Jan 16, 2026; AP News, Jan 16, 2026)

The Response: Hundreds of Firefighters, Dozens of Vehicles

Firefighters launched a full-scale response, deploying 324 firefighters and 106 vehicles to stop the flames from spreading. A helicopter was also sent—but only after the morning haze and fine dust lifted enough for safer flying. Authorities even raised the fire alert to a high level early on, because the village sits near a mountain and there were worries the blaze could spread uphill. (Reuters, Jan 16, 2026)

Why This Area Burns So Easily

Guryong Village is packed tightly with makeshift homes often built using vinyl sheets, plywood, and Styrofoam—materials that can ignite and spread fire quickly. That’s why fires have happened here before, and why experts say the village’s design and building materials make it unusually high-risk. (Reuters, Jan 16, 2026; AP News, Jan 16, 2026)

A Resident’s Perspective: “Where Do We Go Now?”

Reuters quoted a 69-year-old resident, Kim Ok-im, who said she was asleep until a neighbor warned her about the fire. She ran outside and saw flames already spreading, then worried about what would happen if her home was destroyed. Her comments captured a tough reality: even if the flames stop, people still have to figure out the next step—housing, money, and safety. (Reuters, Jan 16, 2026)

The Wider Story: Inequality, Redevelopment, and a Community in Transition

Guryong Village formed when families displaced by major public works projects in the 1970s and 1980s settled on the edge of Gangnam without permits. It’s often described as Seoul’s largest remaining shantytown—and it sits right next to some of the city’s most expensive neighborhoods, making it a powerful symbol of economic inequality. The area is scheduled for redevelopment into high-rise apartments, and officials say most residents have already moved out, but around 336 households still remain. (Reuters, Jan 16, 2026; AP News, Jan 16, 2026)

Vocabulary

Extinguished (verb) – put out (a fire) completely.
Example: Fire crews extinguished the blaze after about eight hours.
Evacuated (verb) – moved people away from danger to a safer place.
Example: Residents were evacuated before the fire could spread further.
Deprived (adjective) – lacking basic resources or living in poverty.
Example: The deprived community sits inside one of Seoul’s richest districts.
Makeshift (adjective) – temporary and built quickly from available materials.
Example: Many homes in the village are makeshift structures.
Flammable (adjective) – able to catch fire easily.
Example: Flammable materials made the fire harder to control.
Deployment (noun) – sending people and equipment to respond to a situation.
Example: The deployment included hundreds of firefighters and dozens of vehicles.
Forensic (adjective) – related to investigating causes using scientific methods.
Example: Officials said a forensic examination would help determine the cause.
Redevelopment (noun) – rebuilding an area with new buildings and infrastructure.
Example: The village is planned for redevelopment into high-rise apartments.
Haze (noun) – light pollution or mist that reduces visibility.
Example: Haze and fine dust delayed helicopter support in the morning.
Vulnerability (noun) – weakness or exposure to harm.
Example: The fire exposed the vulnerability of older, crowded housing areas.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What details show that the Guryong Village fire required a large emergency response?
Why did haze and fine dust matter during the firefighting operation?
What makes Guryong Village more vulnerable to fires than modern apartment neighborhoods?
How did Kim Ok-im’s comments change the emotional tone of the story?
Why do you think this fire attracted international media attention?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

How should cities handle safety issues in older neighborhoods with informal housing?
When redevelopment happens, what responsibilities do governments have to current residents?
What can be done to reduce fire risk in crowded communities without major rebuilding?
How does inequality show up in housing in your country or city?
Why do disasters often hit low-income communities harder?

Related Idiom / Phrase

“A wake-up call” – an event that shocks people into paying attention and taking action.

Example: The Guryong Village fire was a wake-up call about safety risks that haven’t been solved yet.

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This article was inspired by: Reuters (Jan 16, 2026) and AP News (Jan 16, 2026).