Chuncheon City to Continue Strict Punishment Without Tolerance for Illegal Burning of Agricultural Byproducts

Illegal Burning Continues Despite 'Forest Fire Crisis'
Chuncheon City Intensifies Crackdown on Burning Activities

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Chuncheon City (Mayor Yuk Dong-han) announced on the 1st that it is strictly punishing illegal burning activities in forests and forest-adjacent areas under a 'zero tolerance policy.'

According to Chuncheon City, on the 1st, a person burning agricultural by-products near the forest was caught in Sabuk-myeon. Additionally, illegal burning activities near forests were discovered on January 27th in Onui-dong and on February 20th in Sinbuk-eup. Fortunately, all three cases of illegal burning were detected and extinguished early, preventing the spread to forest fires. Chuncheon City imposed a fine of 300,000 KRW on the offenders in accordance with the strict punishment policy for burning activities in forests and forest-adjacent areas.

A view of Chuncheon City Hall, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Photo by Chuncheon City Hall

Despite the recent massive forest fires in the Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk regions causing significant damage, illegal burning activities such as burning agricultural by-products in forests and forest-adjacent areas continue to occur. Therefore, Chuncheon City is deploying monitoring personnel and conducting focused crackdowns on burning activities in forests and forest-adjacent areas.

In particular, during the period around Cheongmyeong and Hansik, when the national forest fire disaster alert remains at the severe stage and the risk of forest fires is high, public officials will carry out special forest fire prevention duties.

A Chuncheon City official stated, “We are continuously promoting awareness of the dangers and penalties related to burning activities in forests and forest-adjacent areas, and strictly punishing illegal burning offenders,” adding, “We ask for citizens’ interest and cooperation in preventing forest fires to protect our forests.”

Meanwhile, according to the Forest Protection Act, a person who starts a fire in forests or forest-adjacent areas is fined 300,000 KRW for the first offense, 400,000 KRW for the second, and 500,000 KRW for the third.