On January 16, 2026, a significant fire unfolded in Guryong village, one of Seoul's last-remaining shanty towns, located in southern Seoul. The blaze began in the morning and rapidly engulfed makeshift homes, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Local authorities reported no immediate casualties; however, they deployed over 1,200 personnel, including firefighters and police officers, to tackle the situation and search for potential victims in the affected area. Guryong village, established in the 1980s, has a history of vulnerability to fires due to its densely packed housing constructed from flammable materials. The village's layout and construction materials pose ongoing risks, as it has seen fires occur intermittently over the years. Despite being situated near some of the city's most affluent neighborhoods, its existence highlights stark income disparities within South Korea. Observers note that the tightly-knit structures amplify the dangers during such incidents, which can escalate quickly and affect many residents. The urgent response to the fire situation reflects the ongoing challenges facing Guryong residents, many of whom were displaced during a period of extensive urban redevelopment in the 1980s. Back then, the government, under military-backed leadership, initiated mass evictions in a bid to modernize urban landscapes for international visibility, particularly during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. This redevelopment left many individuals without homes, leading to the establishment of shanty towns like Guryong as a refuge for those searching for affordable living in an increasingly expensive city. As firefighters gained control of the inferno approximately six and a half hours after it started, the focus shifted to investigating the cause of the fire. Local officials began reviewing the safety protocols and risks inherent in such crowded living conditions. Furthermore, governmental discussions regarding potential future interventions aimed at improving the living conditions have become increasingly pertinent, especially as instances of fire risk continue to emerge in vulnerable communities like Guryong, where the shadows of past development policies still loom large.