Fighting the Flames: Peace Winds Support for South Korea’s Wildfire Survivors
On March 21st, 2025, devastating wildfires spread rapidly in the mountains of southeastern South Korea, crossing multiple regions due to dry conditions and strong winds. What began in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, soon engulfed parts of Uiseong in North Gyeongsang and Ulju County in Ulsan Metropolitan City. These fires have become the most destructive in South Korean history, with Uiseong alone suffering the third-largest wildfire damage on record.
More than 30,000 people have been displaced, including elderly residents evacuated from nursing homes. Many evacuees are now sheltering in local gyms and elementary schools with limited privacy and basic needs unmet.
A firefighting helicopter drops water over a wildfire to aid in containment.
Peace Winds continues to provide emergency aid to residents who have lost their homes. Teams are especially focused on evacuees sheltering in more isolated areas where other organizations are providing less support. Many of these evacuees are elderly. As part of its relief activities, Peace Winds is providing hot meals at these evacuation centers. Residents typically gather together for these meals, even graciously inviting Peace Winds staff to join. They say that the sense of community is strong in those moments, and the warm atmosphere makes everyone feel as if they are at home in a small town.
Peace Winds is also providing residents with laundry services, which are especially needed in areas where running water has been cut off. At one motel where evacuees are living, staff found that although a mountain of clothing had been donated, the majority of the items were too small for evacuees to use. Instead, what they needed was the ability to wash the clothes they brought with them. Along with meal assistance, Peace Winds provided vouchers so that motel residents could do their laundry at a nearby bathhouse.
Evacuees live in small tents in a crowded gymnasium.
“When I first found out about the vouchers, I couldn’t believe it, so I called the bathhouse myself,” the owner of the motel said. “When I found out that it was true, I was so touched by the thoughtfulness of the organization. I’m so glad they listened to what we really need.”
In addition to the laundry vouchers, Peace Winds is working with bath houses to provide vouchers so that evacuees can take relaxing hot baths. One woman said to Peace Winds, “ my house burned down, but I just washed myself clean for the first time in a while, and I feel like I can fly.”
The Peace Winds team is committed to remaining in the affected areas to support long-term recovery as well. After major wildfires struck Goseong (2019) and Uljin (2022), a unique part of Peace Winds’ recovery was the Dasibom Project–a mobile photography studio offering survivors the chance to take new family photos to replace those they lost and restore treasured memories. This symbolic gesture is more than just a photo; it’s a way to reclaim dignity and start anew.
Although multiple weeks have passed since the disaster, Peace Winds sees the emotional toll and physical hardships that evacuation life has placed on families, older adults, and children all forced into shared spaces with few personal belongings and limited comfort. Our focus is to provide support that goes beyond basic needs to protect and care for people.
A coastal town left in ruins after a wildfire swept through.
Relief workers coordinate and distribute essential food supplies at an emergency aid station.
Charred buildings and collapsed rooftops from the aftermath of the wildfire.
Right now, families are sleeping in evacuation centers after losing everything. Firefighters have risked their lives to protect what remains. Peace Winds and our partners can respond quickly, but we need help to keep going. Your donation can bring relief, comfort, and hope to those facing this crisis. To support our response in South Korea, please donate here and select “Korea Wildfires.” Thank you for your continued support.