Fire burns makeshift homes in shadow of Seoul’s skyscrapers

By KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A fire has destroyed about 60 makeshift homes in a densely packed neighborhood surrounded by some of the wealthiest streets of South Korea’s ultramodern capital. Guryong village has long been a symbol of South Korea’s stark income inequalities and has been damaged by fires in the past. The village was formed in the 1980s to house people evicted from their original neighborhoods during redevelopment projects. Firefighters extinguished the flames in about five hours and officials say there were no casualties. About 500 people had to flee, but most will be able to return home. A community leader says residents alerted one another to the fire and firefighters went door-to-door to help them evacuate.