Heightened Risk of Large-Scale Forest Fires Amid Dry Weather and Strong Winds... Strict Fines Imposed for Violations
Geochang County in South Gyeongsang Province announced on the 20th that, with the arrival of the spring season when the risk of forest fires increases, it will completely ban burning and the use of fire in areas adjacent to forests, and will strictly impose fines on violators.
Burning in areas adjacent to forests carries a very high risk that even a small spark can lead to a large-scale forest fire, especially when combined with dry weather and strong winds. Recent forest fire statistics also show that the burning of agricultural and forestry by-products, as well as the burning of rice paddies and field ridges, accounts for a significant portion of forest fire causes.
With the Enforcement of the Forest Disaster Prevention Act starting on February 1, 2026, the fine standards have been significantly strengthened compared with the previous Forest Protection Act. If a fire is lit in a forest or in an area adjacent to a forest without permission, the fine has been sharply raised from the previous 300,000 won to 500,000 won. This strengthens the penalty standards in consideration of the risk of forest fire spread and the scale of damage caused by unauthorized burning.
Gang Sinyeo, head of the Forest Division, said, "Even a small spark can lead to a forest fire, so it is more important than anything else to protect the region's forest resources," adding, "We expect that the strengthened fine system will greatly help enhance the effectiveness of enforcement and raise residents' awareness of prevention."
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