[Report] "My Heart Burns" Cheongnyangni Market Fire, Everything Reduced to Ashes... Merchants in Tears

Fire at Cheongnyangni Market Early Morning on the 19th... 5 Stores Completely Burned, 8 Damaged
Experts Say "Replacing Aging Facilities and Continuous Fire Safety Management Are Crucial"

Fire scene at Cheongnyangni Agricultural and Marine Products Market, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] "Piled-up goods turned to ashes...", "All we wish is to resume business as soon as possible."

On the midnight of the 19th, a large fire broke out at the Cheongnyangni Agricultural and Marine Products Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Since the fire occurred late at night after the merchants had left, there were no casualties, but five stores were completely burned down and eight were partially damaged, affecting a total of 13 shops. According to the Fire Department, the fire started at around 12:26 a.m. and was fully extinguished about six hours later at 6:34 a.m.

The scene of the fire visited on the 20th was devastating. The shops that burned had collapsed roofs and were blackened to the point where their shapes were unrecognizable. Piles of fire debris were everywhere, and burnt goods were scattered haphazardly. The merchants affected by the fire watched the fire department’s on-site investigation with hollow expressions.

Merchant Yoon (59), whose warehouse storing food ingredients was completely destroyed by the fire, said, "The fire started at that house over there and spread to ours. Since no one was there when the fire broke out, we couldn’t respond at all," adding, "There were goods worth between 100 million and 150 million won in the warehouse, but everything burned down."

Yoon said, "Our store has no sprinklers or any fire prevention facilities at all. Most of the shops here are probably the same, and even if they have such equipment, it’s useless because it can’t be used," adding, "Most people doing business here are tenants, so it’s difficult to spend money to install such facilities."

Stores at Cheongnyangni Agricultural and Marine Products Market damaged by fire. The roof has collapsed and the glass is broken. / Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@

Vegetable shop merchant Kim (68) also shed tears looking at the shop turned to ashes, saying, "The refrigerators and everything collapsed, so I can’t even take anything out." Kim appealed, "The fire broke out when there were no people on the weekend, so there was nothing we could do. Once the investigation results come out, I hope we can clean up and get help to resume business as soon as possible. Our livelihood depends on it." Another affected merchant continued selling vegetables in front of the burned shop, barely escaping the fire.

A large fire also occurred at the Cheongnyangni traditional market on September 21 last year. Although there were no casualties then, the fire spread quickly in the densely packed area, destroying about 20 shops. The despair of merchants, who had been hoping for a Chuseok holiday sales boost amid the COVID-19 situation, was even greater.

Passersby stopped in front of the fire scene, expressing their sympathy. Lee (62), who frequently visits the Cheongnyangni Agricultural and Marine Products Market, said, "Last year, the fire broke out at the fruit and vegetable market over there, and this time it’s here. The facilities are old, the shops are packed tightly, and if something goes wrong, everyone suffers," adding, "I hope the market is restored quickly so that citizens can visit with peace of mind."

Kim (67), who runs an egg shop opposite the accident site, said, "Our shop was spared from this fire, but we live with the anxiety that an accident could happen anytime," adding, "Because the building is old, insurance companies are reluctant to provide fire insurance. Even if we get insurance, the premiums are high and the compensation is low, so merchants often choose not to get insured."

Cheongnyangni Agricultural and Marine Products Market fire site. Leftover food ingredients are scattered on the floor. Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@

The police and fire authorities conducted an on-site investigation that day to determine the exact cause and extent of the fire damage. The fire department estimates that the property damage from this fire is about 129 million won.

Experts suggest that continuous maintenance of aging facilities is necessary to reduce fires in traditional markets. Professor Gong Ha-sung of the Department of Fire Protection and Disaster Management at Woosuk University said, "Fires occurring during winter nighttime are often caused by electrical sparks. Unless this fire at Cheongnyangni Market was arson, it is likely to have been an electrical fire," adding, "In traditional markets, old wiring and the use of electric blankets and heaters for winter heating are common, so if not properly managed, they are easily exposed to fire risks."

He continued, "It is advisable to replace old wiring and install arc fault circuit interrupters to prevent fires in advance. Also, it is necessary to check whether existing fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and other fire facilities are functioning properly, and repeatedly inform merchants about the locations and usage of fire equipment."

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