"1241 Wildfires in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Over the Past Decade, Accounting for 26% of Nationwide Wildfires"

The total area of wildfires in the Seoul metropolitan area is 379ha, 1.3 times the entire area of Yeouido
The main cause of wildfires is 35% 'accidental fires' caused by visitors, cigarette butts, and grave visitors' negligence

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Institute published Seoul Infographics on the theme of ‘Status of Wildfire Occurrences in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and Awareness of Wildfire Prevention.’

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 10th, based on wildfire statistics, the number of wildfires that occurred in the Seoul Metropolitan Area from 2011 to 2020 was 1,241 cases, and the total wildfire area was 379 hectares, which corresponds to about 1.3 times the area of Yeouido lost to fire.

Over the past decade, the average annual number of wildfires nationwide was 474 cases, with an area of 1,120 hectares. It was analyzed that 26.2% of the total number of wildfires and 3.4% of the wildfire area occurred in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

When causes of wildfires such as arson by visitors, cigarette-caused fires, fires caused by grave visitors, and children playing with fire are classified as ‘arson,’ 35.0% of wildfires in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and 42.3% nationwide over the past 10 years were caused by ‘arson.’ Causes of wildfire occurrences are categorized as arson by visitors, cigarette-caused fires, fires caused by grave visitors, children playing with fire, burning of rice paddies and fields, garbage burning, building fires, and others, with most being caused by human factors.

According to the 2020 National Awareness Survey on Wildfire Prevention, more than half of residents in the Seoul Metropolitan Area believe that the control of ‘restricted entry zones’ or ‘closed hiking trails’ during the wildfire caution periods in spring and autumn should be strengthened beyond the current level. Additionally, 7 out of 10 respondents said that fines for entering ‘restricted entry zones’ or ‘closed hiking trails’ during the wildfire caution period should be increased compared to the current amount.

Currently, a fine of up to 100,000 KRW is imposed for entering ‘restricted entry zones’ or ‘closed hiking trails’ during the wildfire caution period. Among the options for appropriate fine levels, the highest response rate was for ‘over 500,000 KRW’ (29.7%). When it comes to lighting fires or carrying fire in the mountains, 7 out of 10 residents in the Seoul Metropolitan Area responded that the fine level should be increased compared to the current level, with the highest response rate being ‘over 3,000,000 KRW’ (33.4%) among the options.

Meanwhile, the most effective policy to prevent arson was identified as ‘strengthening inspection of flammable materials carried by hikers’ (38.1%). This was followed by ‘installation of CCTV in vulnerable areas’ (32.6%) as the second priority.

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