The Forest Administration reported that the area of forest lost to wildfires in South Korea last year reached 105,099 hectares, which is significantly greater than the cumulative area of 88,628 hectares affected by wildfires from 1996 to 2024. This alarming increase in wildfire damage was largely due to concurrent fires in the Yeongnam region on March 22, which resulted in the largest forest area burned in a single day in history, totaling 100,534 hectares. The hardest-hit area was Andong County in Gyeongsangbuk-do, where 52,707 hectares succumbed to flames, while Onyang in Ulsan also experienced severe damage with 1,117 hectares burned. Over the past 30 years (from 1996 to 2025), the average annual occurrence of wildfires in the country has been 477 incidents resulting in the loss of approximately 6,458 hectares of forest. Notably, March has consistently proved to be a critical month for wildfires, contributing to 88% of the total forest damage seen in the last decade, which amounts to 12,762 hectares. Furthermore, the number of large wildfires, defined as those burning over 100 hectares, has notably increased, with 11 incidents recorded in 2022, while 2023 saw a decrease to 8, and predictions indicate fluctuations in the coming years, highlighting an ongoing concern for wildfire management and prevention. Officials at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety emphasized that over 60% of wildfires originate from negligent behaviors, such as burning agricultural waste and careless actions by hikers. Given the current conditions of severe winter droughts and the emerging risk factors like hot and dry winds in regions like Gangwon-do, which are favorable for wildfire spread, the ministry stressed the need for heightened caution during wildfire prevention efforts. Measures are being encouraged, including refraining from illegal burning near fields and disposing of cigarette butts responsibly, as an increasing number of small sparks could escalate into significant wildfires, necessitating community awareness and proactive prevention strategies.