Fire Breaks Out at the Korean Buddhist Historic and Cultural Memorial Hall, Central Council Members Evacuated Urgently

A fire broke out in the central administration building of the Jogye Order located near Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, leading to the emergency suspension of the temporary Central Council meeting and the evacuation of all personnel inside the building.

The fire was confirmed to have started at around 10:25 AM on the 10th in the international conference room of the memorial hall, where the 234th temporary Central Council meeting of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order was being held.

Fire Occurs During Temporary Council Meeting… Temporary Chaos at the Scene

As the news of the fire spread during the meeting, all attendees, including Central Council members and clergy, immediately evacuated the building.

There was a moment of smoke and confusion around the conference hall, but the evacuation was carried out swiftly, and it was reported that there were no significant collisions or injuries.

A representative of the Jogye Order stated, "Smoke was detected during the meeting, and all personnel evacuated quickly under the guidance of safety officers. We will ensure that there is no major disruption to temple operations and the safety of practitioners."

Fire Authorities Deployed, Fire Extinguished… No Casualties Reported

Firefighters from Jongno Fire Station, upon receiving the report, immediately dispatched to the scene to carry out fire extinguishing efforts, and so far, there have been no reported casualties. The fire authorities are currently investigating whether the flames spread to other areas of the building apart from the international conference room.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage have not yet been confirmed, and police and fire authorities plan to investigate the cause through a site examination after the fire is extinguished.

Image source: News1