A fire erupted at a restaurant inside COEX, located in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 25th, prompting the evacuation of approximately 1,200 people. The blaze was brought under control within two hours, and no casualties were reported.
According to fire authorities, the fire was first reported at 11:07 a.m., with the caller stating that flames had broken out in the kitchen of a second-floor restaurant. Emergency services swiftly responded, arriving on site by 11:10 a.m. A total of 147 firefighters and 33 fire trucks were dispatched to battle the blaze.
The fire was largely contained by 11:42 a.m. and completely extinguished by 1:14 p.m., two hours and seven minutes after the initial report. Investigators believe the fire originated in the hood area of the kitchen ceiling.
금일 2025년 4월 25일
코엑스 화재 발생 pic.twitter.com/JjB61M6tn8
— G (@G38483294726189) April 25, 2025
Thick smoke billowed from the building, blanketing the Samseong-dong area and causing widespread alarm. COEX staff and visitors evacuated the building on their own. Four individuals who inhaled smoke during the evacuation received on-site medical treatment, but no serious injuries were reported.
At the time of the fire, COEX was hosting the 2025 World IT Show (WIS), a major international exhibition for information and communications technology. The event was temporarily suspended during the emergency but resumed shortly after the fire was extinguished.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.
