A large wildfire centered in North Gyeongsang Province (경상북도) is spreading rapidly. On March 25, 2025, an evacuation order was issued across the entire city of Andong, and as of March 26, 18 people have died and an area equivalent to 25,000 soccer fields has been damaged. If you are near the affected areas, please read this guide carefully.
What to Do Right Now
If You Are Indoors
- Close all windows and doors to keep smoke and harmful gases out.
- Pack an emergency bag with water, medication, important documents, and a phone charger so you can grab it and go at any moment.
- Find out where your nearest evacuation shelter is in advance. (See the “Finding Evacuation Shelters” section below.)
If You Need to Evacuate
- Leave immediately as soon as an official evacuation order is issued. Even without an order, if you smell smoke, move to a safe location right away.
- Before leaving, turn off the gas valve. If possible, spray water around the outside of your home.
- When driving, avoid roads near the fire and stay on roads well away from mountains.
If You Are with Young Children, Infants, or People with Limited Mobility
- Carry infants in a baby carrier so your hands stay free, this is much safer during evacuation.
- Hold children’s hands firmly and explain calmly what is happening and what you are doing.
- If someone cannot move easily on their own, ask a neighbor for help or contact your local district office (시청/군청/구청).
Receiving Disaster Alerts and Local Updates
When a disaster occurs in South Korea, local government agencies send emergency alert messages (CBS) directly to residents’ mobile phones. Please watch for these messages and follow the instructions they give.
You can also view disaster alert messages in Korean and English on the National Disaster Safety Portal:
- Korean: https://www.safekorea.go.kr/idsiSFK/neo/sfk/cs/sfc/dis/disasterMsgList.jsp?menuSeq=679
- English: http://eng.safekorea.go.kr/message/selectMessageList.do
City and county offices also post fast updates on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media, it helps to follow your local office’s accounts.
Emergency Ready App (Multilingual Disaster Alert App)
This is an official app provided by the Korean government. It delivers wildfire and disaster alerts in Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and more.
- Android: Download on Google Play
- iOS (iPhone): Download on the App Store
Checking Real-Time Wildfire Maps
You can see how far the fire has spread in real time using these services:
| Service | Link |
|---|---|
| Korea Forest Service, Live Wildfire Map (Korean) | Open |
| Korea Forest Service, Live Wildfire Map (English) | Open |
| Google Maps | maps.google.com |
| Naver Map | map.naver.com |
Finding Evacuation Shelters
You can search for the nearest evacuation shelter by area on the National Disaster Safety Portal or through the Emergency Ready App.
- National Disaster Safety Portal, Shelters (Korean): https://www.safekorea.go.kr/idsiSFK/neo/sfk/cs/contents/civil_defense/SDIJKM1402.html?menuSeq=57
- National Disaster Safety Portal, Shelters (English): http://eng.safekorea.go.kr/facility/selectFacilityInfoList.do
Learn More: Wildfire Safety Guidelines
The Korea Forest Service publishes official guidelines on what to do during a wildfire:
- Korea Forest Service, Wildfire Safety Guidelines (Korean): https://www.forest.go.kr/kfsweb/kfi/kfs/cms/cmsView.do?cmsId=FC_002253&mn=AR04_01_01_06
Specific details such as numbers and deadlines may change depending on the situation, so please confirm the latest information by calling 1345 (the Immigration Contact Center) or contacting your local Korea Immigration Service office before taking any action.