[Exclusive] Arrest Warrant Sought for Undocumented Worker in His 30s After Wando Fire Claims Lives of Two Firefighters

Unauthorized Use of Heating Equipment in Confined Space... Complete Lack of Basic Safety Protocols

Disregard for ‘Two-Person Team’ Rule... Disaster Caused by Safety Negligence

Two Heroes—A Soon-to-be Groom and a Father of Three—Laid to Rest

Two firefighters lost their lives in a fire that broke out at a seafood processing company's cold storage facility in Wando County, South Jeolla Province. An arrest warrant has been requested for a foreign worker in his 30s, who is believed to have caused the blaze. This fire is being viewed as a typical example of a man-made disaster, resulting from both the absence of basic safety regulations and structural problems commonly found in small, financially struggling workplaces.

On April 14, Wando Police Station announced that it had requested an arrest warrant for a Chinese national in his 30s, referred to as Mr. A, on charges of arson by negligence for starting a fire the previous day at a cold storage facility in Gunoe-myeon, Wando County. Mr. A, who was confirmed to be an undocumented worker, was subject to the warrant due to the seriousness of the incident and concerns about possible flight.

The late Fire Lieutenant Seungwon Park and the late Fire Sergeant Taeyoung Noh

According to the police investigation, Mr. A caused the fire by using a heating device (torch) alone and without authorization in a confined space coated with flammable substances, in order to remove epoxy flooring.

It appears that there was virtually no safety management at the site. The business owner, Mr. B, a man in his 60s, instructed Mr. A to carry out the highly dangerous hot work. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether Mr. B was present at the scene when the fire broke out.

Although there was no direct statement from the police, it is highly likely that essential industrial safety guidelines—such as the "two-person team" rule, the provision of minimum safety equipment, and prior safety training—were not properly implemented. In effect, an undocumented worker, hired to cut costs, was pushed into a high-risk job with virtually no protection. Additionally, the need for reassessment of on-site manuals during the "residual fire cleanup" phase after the initial fire suppression has emerged as a pressing issue.

The fire started at approximately 8:25 a.m. on April 12. Firefighters responded and initially brought the blaze under control. However, during the re-entry for residual fire cleanup, the firefighters were suddenly trapped by rapidly spreading flames and toxic gases.

Due to the nature of cold storage facilities, where highly flammable insulation materials like urethane foam are used, there is a high risk of reignition even after the initial fire is extinguished. As such, there are growing calls for a thorough review of whether precise on-site command and risk assessment protocols, which are essential for the safety of firefighters, were properly followed.

The story of the late Fire Lieutenant Seungwon Park and the late Fire Sergeant Taeyoung Noh, who were unable to escape and lost their lives despite evacuation orders, has deeply moved the community.

Sergeant Noh was a groom-to-be, with his wedding scheduled just five months later. Lieutenant Park, the father of three, had recently obtained a first-class drone operator's license, hoping to transfer to the relatively safer position of "fire drone operator" for the sake of his family. A colleague who prepared for the license exam with him recalled, "Lieutenant Park said he was studying for the test because he wanted to switch to a safer role for the sake of his wife and children."

The police are also closely investigating whether Mr. B, the business owner, can be held criminally liable for professional negligence, in addition to Mr. A’s charge of arson by negligence. A joint forensic investigation is being conducted with the National Forensic Service and other agencies to determine the exact cause of the fire and clarify responsibility.

Meanwhile, the government posthumously promoted both firefighters by one rank and awarded them the Order of Merit for National Foundation for their dedication to protecting the lives and safety of the public. Their funeral is being held with full honors by the Governor of South Jeolla Province, and mourners, including citizens and officials from various sectors, have been paying their respects at the joint memorial altar set up at the Wando Culture & Arts Center.

After the funeral service on April 14, the two fallen firefighters will be laid to rest at the National Cemetery.

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