Andong Hahoe Village. /Courtesy of Joseon DB

On the 25th, around 4:55 p.m., Andong City in Gyeongbuk reported, "A strong wind is causing the wildfire to spread rapidly," issuing an evacuation order to residents of Hahoe Village (Hahoe-ri) to move to Jeouri Village. Jeouri is located about 1 km away from Hahoe Village across the Nakdong River.

At around 3:31 p.m. that day, Andong City announced in a disaster text message sent to residents that the wildfire in Uiseong is spreading to Pungcheon-myeon. Hahoe Village is located in Pungsan-myeon, which is adjacent to Pungcheon-myeon. Forest authorities explained that the wildfire is about 10 km away in a straight line from the spread area to Hahoe Village.

On the afternoon of the 25th, the fourth day of the Uiseong forest fire, strong winds blow through Baekja-ri in the Gyeongbuk Andong city’s Gilan-myeon as firefighters patrol the village areas where evacuation orders are issued while surrounding mountains are engulfed in flames. /Courtesy of News1

Hahoe Village was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in August 2010. It is a village established about 600 years ago by Ryu Jong-hye, a former government official, and has been inhabited by his descendants for generations. It is well-known as the birthplace of the Joseon Dynasty Confucian scholars Gyeomam Ryu Un-ryong and Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong.

The Nakdong River flows in an 'S' shape, wrapping around the village and giving rise to the name Hahoe (河回). The Byeolsin Gutal Nori and Hahoe Mask Dance are also famous. In 1999, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom visited, and 20 years later, in May 2019, her son, Prince Andrew, also visited.