Four Suspected Arson Serial Fires Near Cheonggyecheon at Dawn on Seollal

Police Tracking Suspect

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] In the early morning of the Lunar New Year on the 22nd, fires broke out consecutively at four locations near Cheonggyecheon in Seoul. The police are investigating, suspecting arson.

According to the fire authorities, a fire broke out around 1:31 a.m. in a residential area near Sindang Station in Jung-gu, followed by another fire 17 minutes later in front of a commercial building in Hwanghak-dong. Subsequently, at around 2:05 a.m., a fire was reported at a two-story commercial building in Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, and at 2:31 a.m., another fire was reported near a pojangmacha (street food stall) in Myo-dong, Jongno-gu.

The fire partially burned the building exterior walls or nearby stacked boxes and was extinguished within 30 to 40 minutes. There were no casualties, but three residents on the third floor of the building near Sindang Station, where the first report was received, had to evacuate urgently while sleeping. The police are searching for suspects, considering the possibility of arson due to the fires occurring consecutively in adjacent locations within just one hour.