Ecosystem devastated fire in South Korea may take the century to recover

Seoul – the deadly fires of South South Korea were under control, but it could take a century for the ecosystem throughout the fire area to recover, according to forest researchers.

Multiple reports on large fires – including a March 2025 report of the National Institute of Forest Sciences – stresses that it requires over 30 years for structural recovery and up to 100 years for full ecological stabilization.

The erosion of the soil remains severe until two years after a fire, stabilizing in three to five years. However, the complete recovery of the ecosystem varies. The fish last for three years to return, invertebrates nine marine and Eusocial insects, such as ants and bees 14.

Even after 20 years, forest animals, vegetation and soil conditions remain modified. Trees require decades to find themselves, and forest animals depend on sufficient recovery of habitat. The restoration of the soil takes even longer because of the complex ecological processes.

Some international studies on the growth of wood biomass and postfire recovery – such as a study from April 2021 in the Academic Forests and a September 2024 study in ecosystems – estimating recovery in high intensity fire areas can take over 90 years.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Police Agency of North Gyeongsang carried out his first common investigation in the spot in a forested area of ​​Goesan-ri, Anpyeong-Myeon, Uiseong-Guun to investigate A suspect in connection with the wild fire in North Gyeongsang.

The common investigation included the National Criminal Service, the National Institute of Forest Sciences and the Fire Authorities.

Using drones, the team examined the cause of the fire on the day it started and analyzed the direction in which the flames spread because of the wind.

The headquarters of the disasters and the safety of the headquarters also requested quick and comprehensive support for the victims of fires within the meeting organized on the same day.

All 270,000 residents in cities and counties have designated special disaster areas in the province of North Gyeongsang will receive a single 300,000 (USD 273) payment from the provincial government’s emergency execution program. The provincial government of the province of South Gyeongsang has also announced on March 30 that it will offer 300,000 won to all the victims of fires in the special disasters there.

Two provincial governments have stated that they intend to request additional support from the central government.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has revealed its measures to provide temporary housing for evacuates using public rental housing, provided without rents for two years. The victims of fires wishing to request such a home can submit a request to the respective local administration. Once they are checked as eligible, victims can continue with the movement process.

The Ministry of Lands will offer a long -term loan support, with low interest, when it is necessary to restore the homes.

Foreign inhabitants registered as living in special areas of disasters – Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok in the province of North Gyeongsang; Sancheong, Hadong in the province of South Gyeongsang; And Ulesan’s Ulju – will be exempted from the necessary taxes for various requests related to immigration, including visa extensions and citizenship requests, until April 30, according to the Ministry of Justice.

According to the Ministry of Justice, it will help the seasonal foreign workers who are not able to work due to wild fire damage to other farms, stating that the same procedures will be followed when additional cities are designated as special disaster areas.

“Although the wild fires in the South -South Korea is full of Sunday, the dry weather will continue in April. As many mountains will be visited by national levels, especially at the beginning of April, the efforts to prevent wild fire, such as Patrol Mobile, will be maintained in March 31.

“As the wild fires have become higher and spread at an unprecedented speed, guidelines for public evacuation will be made, and the response textbooks of local administrations will be updated to minimize the damage,” the authorities said.

The wild fires in the south – the South Korea is burned by 48,238 hectares – an area equivalent to about 80 % of the Seoul dimension – despite a week of isolation efforts, which demand 30 lives and injuring 45 people.

Wild fires forced more than 37,000 people to evacuate and damage about 6,400 private and public facilities. Korea Herald/ Asia news network

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