SBS 'Kkokomu' Highlights Heroes Amidst South Korea's Devastating Wildfire

SBS's 'Kkokomu' recently spotlighted the heroes who emerged during South Korea's worst wildfire, which began from negligence and claimed numerous lives and disrupted daily life.

On the episode aired on the 9th, 'The Story That Bites Its Tail' featured The Boyz's Younghoon, former skeleton athlete Yoon Sung-bin, and actress Kim Yoo-mi as listeners, as they delved into the harrowing scenes of the 'Gyeongbuk Wildfire'.

In March 2025, a wildfire ignited by a visitor to a grave site rapidly spread due to dry weather and strong winds. Within four days, the fire had grown uncontrollably, engulfing villages. By March 25, Yeongdeok's Seok-ri 'Ttakgebi Village' had turned into a fiery inferno with embers flying and ashes falling like snow. Kim Yoo-mi expressed shock, saying, "It must have felt like the end of the world."

As evacuation alerts sounded, residents fled their homes in slippers, but the flames moved faster than anticipated, leaving some trapped. Younghoon remarked, "It must have felt truly hopeless," while Yoon Sung-bin added, "It's unimaginable to think of one's home burning down."

Amidst despair, Kim Geun-woo, a fisherman at Yeongdeok's 'Ttakgebi Village' breakwater, emerged as a hero. With communication cut off and elderly residents stranded, he reported the situation to 119 and began rescue efforts. Braving waves and flames, he carried the isolated elderly on his back to a boat, collaborating with the coast guard to save all residents on the breakwater.

At the 1,300-year-old Uiseong Gounsa Temple, another battle unfolded. Eleven firefighters were trapped by the flames, and the Gyeongbuk 119 Special Response Team, led by Fire Officer Kang Dae-hyun, entered the smoke and wind-blinded area. Some left final messages for their families before entering. Using sirens to locate each other, they successfully rescued all trapped colleagues.

Tragically, not all stories ended in miracles. Shin Eung-guk, a wildfire monitor in Yeongdeok, assisted in firefighting efforts in a neighboring village. As the fire spread rapidly to Yeongdeok, he decided to return, battling flames for three hours to reach home. Sadly, he was caught by the fire near the road and perished. Five more bodies were found within a 600-meter radius, highlighting the tragedy's severity.

The next day, the village lay in ruins. Kim Yoo-mi, married to Jung-woo, expressed sorrow, saying, "It must have felt surreal, like hoping to wake from a nightmare." In another area, an elderly couple perished together, with only remains found at their burned home, leaving their family in tears. Kim Yoo-mi commented, "It must be a lifelong regret for their children," while Yoon Sung-bin added, "It's beyond imagination."

The wildfire raged from March 22 to 28, lasting 149 hours, claiming 27 lives, and displacing approximately 3,500 people. The damage spanned about 100,000 hectares, 1.6 times the size of Seoul. With 100-meter fire pillars, typhoon-level winds, and crown fires, the blaze spread at an unprecedented speed of 8.2 km per hour, causing damages amounting to 1.13 trillion won.

Shockingly, this catastrophe stemmed from just three negligent acts: burning branches by a grave visitor, orchard waste burning, and a cigarette butt. In the first trial, the grave visitor and orchard tenant received suspended sentences of two years and two and a half years, respectively. Younghoon criticized, "Some will live with a lifelong desire to cry."

Hosts Jang Hyun-sung, Jang Sung-kyu, and Jang Do-yeon emphasized, "Many still suffer due to someone's careless actions. We must prevent such disasters through thorough precautions."

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr