School a Designated Non-Smoking Area... Parents Outraged Over Fire Believed to Be Caused by Student's Cigarette Butt

Fire Breaks Out After Lunch at High School in Chungbuk

Parents Point to "Neglect of Habitual Smoking"

A fire at a high school in Chungbuk, believed to have been caused by a cigarette butt discarded by a student, has prompted the school to begin disciplinary procedures and guidance for the student involved.

On April 24, Yonhap News reported that at around 12:50 p.m. the previous day, a fire broke out in a 50-liter trash bag placed outside a building near the school cafeteria. The fire was quickly extinguished with a fire extinguisher by a student and a teacher who discovered it after lunch. Firefighters also responded to the student's report, but by the time they arrived, the fire had already been put out. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and aside from partial burning of the plastic trash bag, the fire did not spread to the building or to the nearby hills.

A fire occurred near a school meal site in Chungbuk. Photo by Yonhap News

A school official stated, "We believe the fire started when a student threw a cigarette butt that was still lit into the trash bag after smoking," adding, "We are guiding the student involved and preparing disciplinary measures." Some have raised concerns that the area in question has effectively been left unattended as a smoking spot for students.

One parent said, "The school is supposed to be a non-smoking area, but there have been stories for some time that some students habitually smoke in that spot," and added, "We have informed the school and the education authorities about the smoking issue and fire risk, but nothing has been properly addressed." The school stated that it will clarify the exact circumstances and strengthen guidance for student smoking as well as inspections of vulnerable locations on campus. Parents pointed out, "Rather than seeing this as simply an individual student's misconduct, the school should also examine how it has managed an area that has repeatedly been the subject of complaints."

Meanwhile, in March, a video was posted on social media showing high school students in South Jeolla Province smoking in indoor stairwells, hallways, and restrooms of the school building, sparking controversy. The footage included a male student casually climbing stairs while smoking and a female student smoking in what appeared to be a restroom. At that time, investigations by the local education office and the school revealed that the students involved were first-year freshmen, and some of them had accumulated disciplinary actions from the School Life Guidance Committee for failing to follow teachers' guidance after admission.

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