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| Bongcheon-dong apartment in fire |
A devastating fire broke out on the morning of April 21, 2025, at a 21-story apartment building in Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak District, Seoul, resulting in one fatality and at least six injuries, including two elderly women who sustained serious injuries after jumping from the 4th floor in a desperate attempt to escape.
The man who died in the fire has been identified as A, a resident in his 60s and the prime suspect in the arson case. Authorities confirmed that A had previously lived on the 3rd floor of the building and had a history of conflict with neighbors living directly above—on the 4th floor, which was where the fire is believed to have originated.
In fact, in September last year, A had a physical altercation with residents of the 4th floor, requiring police intervention. However, the incident did not lead to criminal charges, as the victims declined to press charges.
Before setting the apartment building ablaze, A reportedly started a small fire near his mother’s home, located about 1.4 kilometers away from the main scene. When police searched A’s apartment, they discovered a suicide note and ₩50,000 in cash. In the letter, A apologized to his family and asked them to take care of his mother, suggesting premeditation and emotional distress.
The fire broke out at approximately 8:17 AM and was finally extinguished nearly two hours later. Authorities believe the suspect used a pesticide sprayer filled with gasoline as the ignition device. A motorbike carrying gasoline canisters, suspected to be used in the attack, was also recovered from the building's underground parking area.
Police are continuing to investigate the motive, planning process, and mental state of the suspect. This tragic case highlights the growing tension and dangers stemming from unresolved disputes in high-density urban housing environments, particularly apartment complexes where privacy and peace are often compromised.
📚 Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
"서울 봉천동 아파트 방화 용의자인 60대 남성이 작년 말까지 화재 발생 장소 바로 아랫집에 살았던 것으로 확인됐다. 과거 자신이 살던 집 위층에 불을 낸 것이다."
Key Vocabulary:
- 방화 (bang-hwa) – arson (deliberately setting a fire)
- 용의자 (yong-ui-ja) – suspect
- 60대 남성 (yuk-sip-dae nam-seong) – man in his 60s
- 작년 말 (jak-nyeon mal) – end of last year
- 화재 발생 장소 (hwa-jae bal-saeng jang-so) – site of the fire
- 바로 (ba-ro) – directly / just
- 아랫집 (a-raet-jip) – downstairs unit / the home below
- ~던 것으로 확인됐다 (~deon geo-seu-ro hwak-in-dwaet-da) – it was confirmed that ~ had happened
- 과거 (gwa-geo) – the past
- 살던 집 (sal-deon jip) – the house (someone) used to live in
- 위층 (wi-cheung) – upstairs
- 불을 내다 (bul-eul nae-da) – to start a fire (intentionally)
Language Insight:
- 방화 용의자 is a compound often seen in news: 방화 (arson) + 용의자 (suspect). This kind of compound is common in crime and legal reporting (e.g., 절도 용의자 = theft suspect).
- 살던 집 vs. 사는 집: ~던 shows a past habitual action, useful for narrating stories or describing previous residences.
- 불을 내다 is the active verb used when someone causes a fire on purpose. If accidental, news would say 불이 났다 (a fire broke out).
Translation:
"The arson suspect, a man in his 60s, was found to have lived in the apartment house directly below the scene of the fire in Bongcheon-dong, Seoul, until the end of last year. He set fire to the floor above the house he once lived in."