19 Injured as Twin Building Fires Blaze Through Seoul’s Gangnam District

SEOUL — Panic gripped the heart of Seoul’s bustling commercial hub as two separate office building fires broke out just minutes apart in the Yeoksam-dong neighborhood of Gangnam District, leaving 19 people injured and forcing dozens to flee for safety.

The near-simultaneous blazes unfolded during the midday rush, sending thick plumes of black smoke pouring over the high-density business precinct. Authorities deployed over 110 firefighters and more than 50 pieces of emergency equipment to combat the flames across both scenes.

The first emergency call came in around 11:54 a.m. local time, reporting flames on the third floor of the Sinmyeong Building. Callers reported thick smoke filling the hallways, trapping several workers inside and forcing at least five people to lean out of third-floor windows to draw air before rescuers arrived.

Just seven minutes later, at 12:01 p.m., a second fire was reported on the fourth floor of the Hanyang Building, situated roughly 200 meters (656 feet) away.

Emergency responders worked swiftly under a Level 1 response to contain both blazes and execute high-angle rescues. At the Sinmyeong Building, eleven people were injured, including one woman who suffered cardiac arrest at the scene but was successfully revived by paramedics before being transported to a nearby hospital, while roughly 60 other occupants managed to evacuate safely on their own.

Meanwhile, the second fire at the Hanyang Building injured eight additional individuals—primarily due to smoke inhalation—before firefighters brought the blaze under control within 35 minutes. In total, 19 victims received medical attention across emergency facilities in Seoul.

Following a citywide search, police apprehended a man in his 70s on suspicion of arson. Authorities intercepted the suspect near Dongmyo Station in central Seoul after he fled the scene using the public subway system.

Investigating officers revealed that the suspect had previously been arrested in 2022 for attempting an arson attack at the exact same building in Yeoksam-dong. Forensic teams and fire investigators are conducting a detailed joint investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and motives behind the attacks.