The Gyeongbuk Uiseong County Special Judicial Police announced on the 28th that they plan to investigate an individual in their 50s, identified as A, for causing a forest fire in violation of the Forest Protection Act, announced to take place on the 31st.
A is accused of starting a forest fire while visiting a hillside grave in Goesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong County, around 11:24 a.m. on the 22nd. A, who is from another region, reported the fire directly when it broke out.
The forest fire started by A spread to Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, fueled by typhoon-level winds on the 25th, causing significant damage. The affected area covers over 45,000 hectares, about 75% of the area of Seoul. This is double the damage area of the largest forest fire on the East Coast in 2000, which was 23,794 hectares. There were 24 fatalities, 4 serious injuries, and 22 minor injuries, totaling 50 people affected. The main fire was contained by 5 p.m. that day, five hours after it started.
Ahead of the investigation by the special judicial police on the 31st, the police summoned A's daughter as a witness to complete preliminary fact-finding, including witness statements.
The prosecution, overseeing the special judicial police investigation, noted that due to the casualties and damage to cultural properties caused by the fire started by A, it should consider applying not only the Forest Protection Act but also the Criminal Act and Cultural Heritage Protection Act. They also mentioned considering cooperative measures for a comprehensive investigation by the police, as the fire damage area spans five cities and counties.