Passengers evacuate through a tunnel after a fire broke out on a Seoul Metro Line 5 train traveling from Yeouinaru Station to Mapo Station on May 31. / Yonhap News

A man in his 60s set a fire inside a moving subway car on Seoul Metro Line 5 on May 31, forcing more than 400 passengers to evacuate. Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished and the suspect was apprehended at the scene. While 23 passengers were transported to hospitals for smoke inhalation and minor injuries such as fractures, no serious injuries were reported. The limited spread of the fire is credited to the train’s use of nonflammable interior materials and the passengers' quick response.

On June 1, fire authorities estimated property damage at around 330 million won. According to a daily situation report from Seoul Emergency Operations Center, one subway car was destroyed and two others were damaged by smoke. Seoul Metro is reportedly considering filing a claim for damages and exercising its right of recourse against the arsonist.

Many citizens recalled the devastating Daegu subway fire in 2003, expressing relief that a similar tragedy was averted. On February 18, 2003, a fire set by a man in despair over his personal circumstances killed 192 people and injured 151. The rapid spread of the blaze was blamed on the train’s highly flammable interior materials, and the tragedy was worsened by a misjudged initial response from the central control room, making it Korea’s worst subway disaster in history.

Firefighters from the Yeongdeungpo Fire Station inspect the interior of a Seoul Metro Line 5 train on May 31, after a passenger set a fire during operation. / Yonhap News

In contrast, the recent fire was completely extinguished just 1 hour and 41 minutes after it began at 8:43 a.m. A person wrote online, “If flammable materials had been used, it could have been another nightmare. This shows the importance of hard-earned safety. We must always be prepared for such accidents.” Photos of the affected subway car show black soot on the floor and walls, but no visible burning on seats or other major fixtures.

Kim Jin-cheol, head of fire administration at Mapo Fire Station, said during an on-site briefing, “Most recent subway trains are made with fire-resistant materials, so only trash caught fire.” After the Daegu disaster in 2003, subway systems nationwide gradually replaced their interior materials with nonflammable ones. Seoul Metro alone invested approximately 240.3 billion won starting in September 2003 for this upgrade.

The quick actions of passengers also helped prevent a larger catastrophe. According to reports, passengers alerted the train driver using the emergency intercom and opened the train doors via emergency levers beneath the seats. Together with the driver, they managed to contain the fire and evacuate through the tunnel. “By the time firefighters arrived, the fire was already extinguished and there was no need for active suppression,” Kim said. The train driver was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and is currently in stable condition.

Train drivers raised concerns about the single-operator system used on Seoul Metro Line 5 through 8. One driver, identified as Mr. B, said, “Thankfully, there was nothing highly flammable on board, and with passengers’ help the fire was extinguished quickly. But if the fire had been larger, it would have been difficult for the train driver to handle reporting, on-site response, and evacuation guidance alone.”

Calls have also been made to improve real-time monitoring of in-train emergencies. According to the office of Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Yang Boo-nam, footage from onboard security cameras during the fire was not transmitted in real time to the central control center. Currently, surveillance footage can only be reviewed after a train returns to its depot. Seoul Metro said it plans to review ways to improve this system.

The suspect reportedly told police that he committed the arson out of dissatisfaction with the outcome of his divorce proceedings. The police have applied for an arrest warrant for him.