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Man dies after fire suspected to be from arson breaks out in Yangcheon apartment

Published: 01 Apr. 2026, 10:45

Fire damage blackens an apartment in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Dec. 24, 2025. The photo is unrelated to the story. [YONHAP]

A man died after a fire — suspected to be due to arson — broke out at an apartment in Sinjeong-dong in Yangcheon District, western Seoul.

The fire broke out on the sixth floor of a 15-story apartment building in Sinjeong-dong at around 4:14 p.m. on Tuesday, according to fire authorities and police on Wednesday.

Firefighters who responded to the report deployed 68 personnel and 24 pieces of equipment and fully extinguished the blaze at about 4:57 p.m., roughly 40 minutes later.

A man who was alone inside the apartment was found unconscious and taken to a hospital, but he later died. Twenty-three other residents were evacuated, and no additional casualties were reported.

The fire gutted the main bedroom and destroyed household items, including a bed, ultimately causing about 5 million won ($3,300) in property damage.

According to the investigation, the fire started in the main bedroom, and the apartment was not equipped with sprinklers. Authorities believe that the lack of sprinklers in the unit made it difficult for firefighters to put out the blaze in its early stages.

Police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the blaze. They are considering the possibility of arson based on evidence such as where the fire began.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]