On the first day of the Seollal holiday, incidents and accidents occurred across the country.
On this day, a fire broke out at a furniture factory warehouse in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, around 10:41 a.m., prompting the fire department to issue a Phase 2 response and initiate firefighting efforts. Phase 2 response is an alert that mobilizes 51 to 80 pieces of equipment from 8 to 14 fire stations. Firefighters faced difficulties extinguishing the fire due to the accumulation of materials such as raw fabric in the warehouse, but managed to put it out after six hours. Approximately 1,500 square meters of six buildings were burned, but there were no casualties.
Early in the morning of that day, a fire broke out at a waste disposal company in Oksan-myeon, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, resulting in property damage estimated at 97 million won (according to the fire department). The fire consumed half of a 647 square meter warehouse (320 square meters) as well as an oxygen cutting machine and waste. The fire department declared a Phase 1 response, deploying all personnel from the local fire station, with 113 personnel and 38 pieces of equipment sent to extinguish the fire.
Around 2:35 a.m., a fire occurred in a one-room building in Miryong-dong, Gunsan, North Jeolla Province. As a result of the fire, one man in his 20s and one woman were taken to the hospital due to burns and smoke inhalation, respectively. A fire also broke out in a yard of an interior design store in Incheon, causing nearby dwelling residents to evacuate.
At around 10 a.m., a fire broke out on a large 250-ton barge near Namhang Port in Incheon, which was extinguished by firefighters after 1 hour and 12 minutes. The barge was moored near the pier and had three workers aboard, but no injuries were reported.
Wildfires also occurred. Around 11:41 a.m., a fire broke out near the summit of Mount Baekgok-ri in Mado-myeon, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. There were no casualties, but approximately 33,000 square meters of forest were reported to be damaged. The fire department declared a Phase 1 response and deployed four helicopters to contain the large flames by around 2 p.m.
At around 11:57 a.m., a fire broke out on a mountain in Baek-an-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu. The forest authorities dispatched six helicopters, 33 vehicles, and 96 personnel, extinguishing the fire in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. A fire also occurred in a mountain area in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Province, which was extinguished within about an hour, and another wildfire occurred in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, which was controlled after about 40 minutes. A fire broke out in a mountain area in Jangseong-gun, South Jeolla Province, where five helicopters were deployed to suppress the flames in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
In Wonju, Gangwon Province, a foreign worker was killed after becoming trapped in a conveyor belt while working. Police and labor authorities are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident and whether the Serious Accidents Punishment Act applies.
Traffic accidents, presumed to be caused by drowsiness or drunk driving, also occurred. At around 7:50 a.m., a vehicle driven by a man in his 20s crashed into a streetlight on a road in U-dong, Haeundae District, Busan, before veering onto a flower bed and rushing into a park. No injuries were reported.
Around 3:49 p.m., an SUV driven by a person identified as A collided with a passenger car coming from the opposite direction after crossing the center line near Changnyongmun in Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, resulting in a chain reaction that involved five vehicles in the opposite lane. Injuries were reported for four individuals, including A, who received treatment at the hospital. Police are investigating the circumstances, suspecting that A was drowsy while driving.