Forest fire disaster exposes super-aged society in South Korea

The recent forest fire disaster in South Korea not only caused great loss of life and property, but also exposed a serious problem: the country is facing a serious demographic crisis. As young people leave their hometowns in droves to seek opportunities in the cities, rural areas are gradually becoming home to the elderly, unable to protect themselves from natural disasters.

Of the 28 victims who died, most were in their 60s and 70s. Some counties, like Yeongyang, have a population of more than 55 percent elderly. When the fire broke out, many people were unable to evacuate or fight the flames on their own.

Even rescuers have had difficulty reaching the blaze due to a lack of infrastructure and manpower on site. A pilot in his 70s died when his helicopter crashed while trying to put out the fire.

Smoke rises from a forest fire in South Korea. Photo: X/GudadzeLevan

South Korea has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, with migration to cities leaving rural villages increasingly devoid of young people. According to Statistics Korea, the number of farming households has halved over the past 25 years, and more than half of farmers are now 65 or older.

In such a context, rural areas not only face the risk of being devastated by natural disasters but also gradually lose the ability to recover after each fire or flood. When local authorities do not have enough resources to provide timely relief, people can only rely on luck or outside help.

Not only people, but also centuries-old cultural heritage of Korea was engulfed by the fire. 27 historical buildings, including Yakgye Pavilion, Gigokjesa of the Joseon Dynasty, and the ancient stone Buddha at Manjang Temple, were severely damaged. These heritages were protected by local elders, but when they are no longer able, who will continue to preserve them in the future?

This situation is a warning about the imbalance in Korea's population structure. If the trend of leaving the countryside continues, the elderly who remain will become increasingly isolated, facing not only economic hardship but also being abandoned in the midst of natural disasters.

Ngoc Anh (according to Yonhap, AFP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tham-hoa-chay-rung-phoi-bay-xa-hoi-sieu-gia-o-han-quoc-post340461.html