World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Nearly 1,900 households in South Korea still live in temporary homes after wildfires
Major wildfires in South Korea’s North Gyeongsang province struck about 18 months ago.
As of late August 2026, 1,898 affected households in five counties and cities were still living in temporary homes.
Of those, 323 households were building new homes, and 521 had plans to build, buy or rent another home.
But 1,054 households, or 55.5%, had no recorded plan to move.
The reported figures do not specify why these households have not arranged new housing; economic pressure or land issues may be obstacles.
Overall, the province had spent 54% of its planned recovery budget, while spending on village rebuilding projects was just 15.7% of the year’s budget by late August.
The provincial government also needs to review and distribute additional support after national rules are set, and a lawmaker called for clearer rebuilding schedules and tailored housing help.
Nearly 1,900 households in five South Korean counties are still living in temporary homes about a year and a half after major wildfires.
Figures provided by North Gyeongsang Province show that 1,898 households remained in temporary housing at the end of August 2026.
Of those, 1,054 households, or 55.5%, had no plan to move to another home.
The province had spent 15.7% of the current-year budget for 24 village reconstruction and recovery projects by the end of August.
Lawmaker Lim Ho-seon called for tailored housing recovery measures and clearer schedules for reconstruction and aid.
- Who
- 1,898 households affected by wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province.
- What
- They are still living in temporary homes.
- When
- As of the end of August 2026, about a year and a half after the wildfires.
- Where
- Andong, Uiseong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok counties in South Korea.
- Why
- Their homes were damaged by wildfires; the specific reasons some households have not rebuilt or moved are not clearly classified.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The success of wildfire recovery should be measured not by how much budget has been secured, but by when affected residents return home and when devastated village communities return to normal.
Tailored housing recovery measures for households living long-term in temporary homes must be prepared.
Major wildfires struck North Gyeongsang Province.
A total of 1,898 affected households across five counties were still living in temporary homes.
Yonhap reported the figures and Lim Ho-seon called for faster recovery measures.
- Households in temporary homes
- 1,898
- Households with no relocation plan
- 1,054 (55.5%)
- Counties affected
- Andong, Uiseong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok
- Village recovery projects
- 24
- Current-year budget execution for village recovery projects
- 15.7%
Sources
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