[Report] "It's Really Too Hard" Residents of Jeongneung Gas Explosion Face Livelihood Crisis Amid COVID-19

"Bang! Loud noise and the ground shook... Only managed to escape"
"Quit job to care for disabled family member" Misfortunes pile up amid COVID-19
Reporters visit explosion site... Entire corridor exterior wall blown away, 'dizzying'
Seongbuk residents offer 'warm kindness'... Support with side dishes at temporary shelters for disaster victims

A fire broke out on the 6th in an apartment in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. The photo shows the 6th floor where the fire occurred. The wall blocking the corridor's outer wall has completely disappeared. Photo by So-Young Kim, intern reporter sozero815@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kim So-young] "They say things like 'rental apartment' after the accident, it's so frustrating and sad."

At around 7:45 a.m. on the 6th, a fire presumed to be caused by a gas explosion broke out in a 15-story apartment building in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and was extinguished after about two hours. Nine residents were rescued and taken to the hospital, some complaining of smoke inhalation and back pain.

However, two days after the fire accident, on the 8th, residents met at the site were more distressed by the baseless rumors that they were demanding unreasonable compensation because their residence was a rental apartment, and by the invisible discriminatory views, than by the various damages caused by the accident.

Another resident said that all family members except herself are disabled, and she gave up her livelihood to take care of her family. In the midst of the COVID-19 situation, this was like adding insult to injury, pushing them to the brink.

When the press personally inspected the accident site, the scene was literally devastating. The term "chaos" was an understatement. The exterior wall of the corridor-style apartment was completely blown away, creating a dizzying situation where one wrong step could lead to a fall. Nevertheless, residents were entering their homes at the accident site to gather food and clothes, preparing for a precious tomorrow that is ordinary to some.

The residents emphasized that they are not seeking compensation or acting in such a way because of the accident. Resident A (68, female), who witnessed and reported the accident on the 6th, said, "Many young people live here through youth subscription even though it is a rental apartment, but mostly elderly people live here. So, in fact, many people in difficult situations live here... that kind of apartment." She added, "But hearing on the broadcast about rental compensation because of this incident hurts my heart so much. It's really very sad," wiping her eyes.

A briefly composed herself and continued. She said, "I don't know what will happen to whether people live or not. But if you criticize that... Even if I say I'm not in that position, I don't think I could do that." She added, "That really... hurts my heart. Hearing that," and eventually showed tears she had held back. She continued, "Living is all the same. If it's your own home, you're so happy, and how precious is the place where you live and belong," unable to continue.

A clearly remembered the tense moment when reporting. She said, "I always wake up at 7 a.m. But suddenly there was a bang and a collapsing sound, so I was so scared I was trembling and couldn't come out, and I called at 7:45 from the veranda. I reported that the apartment had just exploded, smoke was coming out, and it was on fire. Just thinking about that... the fear was indescribable. The vibration was so strong, and the apartment just shook violently," she explained.

The corridor on the 5th floor below the 6th floor where the accident occurred. Due to the explosion from the accident, the outer wall of the corridor appears dangerously unstable, as if it could fall off at any moment. Photo by So-Young Kim, Intern Reporter sozero815@asiae.co.kr

Meanwhile, at the accident site visited that day, fire, police, Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, and city gas emergency recovery vehicles had arrived and were busy with accident recovery and investigation. The fire started on the 6th floor of the apartment and spread to the 7th floor via the veranda. Nine residents were rescued and taken to the hospital, complaining of smoke inhalation and back pain.

The affected floor and the floor above in the apartment showed a blackened, windowless, empty appearance, telling the story of the devastating accident. Behind the apartment, where the entrance door and corridor were visible at a glance, residents were seen wandering confused on each floor.

People present at the scene during the accident recounted the harrowing situation. Residents said, "At least the kimchi refrigerator flew to the parking lot and survived," and "The front door fell off on the 6th floor," describing the explosion. Although the fire started on the 6th floor, windows were broken and scattered even on the 5th, 4th, and even the 2nd floor due to the fire's impact.

The apartment is a corridor-style building where all units on the same floor share one corridor, and the stairs are connected to the outdoors. Entering the building through the stairs leading directly outside, the scene was even more devastating. Especially closer to the 6th floor where the fire occurred, glass shards and debris were scattered even on the stairs.

The first floor of an apartment with debris scattered due to a suspected explosion fire. Photo by So-Young Kim, Intern Reporter sozero815@asiae.co.kr

While inspecting the accessible 8th-floor corridor, resident B (42, female), who lives on the 8th floor and was relatively less affected, was staying in her home rather than a temporary shelter. She said, "The sound was extremely loud, and everything on the veranda fell," but added, "(The related agencies) responded quickly. Even if I contacted them late at night, they fixed the entrance door the same day."

A resident carrying a basket full of eggs in one hand and some household items in the other was also seen leaving the accident apartment. Resident C (53, female), moving to a temporary shelter, explained, "This situation seems like it will be a long-term battle, whether it takes a month or two, but I have to take out the intact things first. I've been going back and forth for three days carrying things like eggs and pillows." She briefly said, "It's scary to go inside the house, but I have no choice."

Still trembling, she said, "The veranda side is my room, but all the windows were shattered, and the fragments fell into my room. I have a lot of books in my room, so they all fell in a heap. Because of the glass shards and the pile of books... if I had been in my room, I think I would have died because rescue would have been difficult," shuddering.

The front door that fell due to a suspected explosion fire. Photo by So-Young Kim, Intern Reporter sozero815@asiae.co.kr

Two family members living with C are both disabled, making evacuation difficult during the accident and potentially causing serious harm. She sighed, "I don't know what kind of mind I was in to evacuate. I had to put one person who has difficulty moving in a wheelchair and take my mother who has dementia..." She also expressed gratitude, saying, "One elevator lost power and got stuck, and the other was working, so people told us to get on first."

However, the joy of saving their lives was short-lived as C's family faced a livelihood crisis. C, who works as an instructor at an academy, said, "I contacted the academy and told the director that I probably can't come for a while and to find someone else," adding, "The academy will suffer a lot because of my absence. I feel sorry." Being the sole breadwinner for a family where all members are disabled, she was pushed to the edge, especially amid the COVID-19 situation where finding a suitable job is difficult.

Relief supplies in a corner in front of the management office to be delivered to the affected residents. Photo by So-Young Kim, Intern Reporter sozero815@asiae.co.kr

Meanwhile, Seongbuk-gu announced on the 10th that it would provide temporary housing, accommodation fees, and medical expenses support for residents affected by the accident.

Immediately after the accident, Seongbuk-gu cooperated with Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH) to provide temporary housing in nearby rental housing for affected households. For two households unable to use vacant houses, accommodation fees were supported. Emergency relief supplies such as Red Cross disaster relief kits were also provided.

In collaboration with related agencies, additional medical expense support for affected households requiring hospital treatment and psychological recovery support to overcome anxiety are also underway.

Warm kindness from neighboring residents continues. After Jeongneung 4-dong Community Service Center donated 100 boxes of cup noodles, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, and microwaves were provided to apartment complexes densely housing disaster victims' temporary shelters.

Also, the Jeongneung 4-dong Residents' Autonomy Committee has started providing side dishes and other food support. Additionally, the Federation formed by the Neighborhood Association Council, Saemaul Women's Association, Red Cross Volunteer Corps, Welfare Council, and Defense Council supports various foods for disaster victims every Tuesday and Friday.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.