Fire in Seoul's Guryong Village Shantytown Extinguished with No Casualties

A major fire broke out early January 16, 2026, in Guryong Village, Seoul's last large shantytown located in the affluent Gangnam district. Nearly 300 firefighters and over 1,200 personnel responded, evacuating dozens of residents with no casualties reported. The blaze, fueled by densely packed, flammable makeshift homes, was contained after several hours. Guryong Village, formed in the 1980s by families displaced during urban redevelopment, faces ongoing risks amid plans for high-rise redevelopment. Authorities are investigating the fire's cause.