Prosecutors Seek 10-Year Sentence for 'Bongdaesan Fire Squirrel' Responsible for Massive Hamyang Wildfire

A prison sentence of 10 years has been requested for the man known as the "Bongdaesan Fire Squirrel," who was put on trial for alleged forest arson, including a massive wildfire in Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam Province.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Geochang Branch of the Changwon District Court, presided over by Judge Cha Dongkyung, held a final hearing on August 27 for Mr. A, a man in his 60s who was indicted and detained on charges of violating the Forest Protection Act.

At the hearing, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Mr. A to 10 years in prison.

Wildfire site in Machheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam Province. [Photo by Gyeongnam Province]

According to the court, Mr. A is accused of causing three wildfires in the Hamyang-gun area of Gyeongnam Province and Namwon, Jeonbuk Province, between January and February of this year, including the large wildfire on February 21.

He has been identified as the individual called the "Bongdaesan Fire Squirrel," known for setting 94 fires in the Bongdaesan area of Dong-gu, Ulsan, between 1994 and 2011.

At that time, he was prosecuted for 37 cases that remained within the statute of limitations, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and was released upon completing his sentence in March 2021.

During two previous hearings, Mr. A’s defense acknowledged all charges but claimed diminished mental capacity, citing "pathological mitigation" and other factors.

In his final statement, Mr. A said, "I repent of my crimes and will accept my punishment," adding, "If granted leniency, I will live a life of remorse and atonement."

On February 21, at approximately 9:14 p.m., a fire broke out in a wooded area near Changwon-ri, Machon-myeon, Hamyang-gun.

Efforts to contain the fire were complicated by a combination of weather and terrain factors: strong winds with momentary maximum speeds reaching over 20 meters per second, dry conditions, thick layers of fallen leaves, and steep rocky slopes. Due to these factors, it took over 44 hours to extinguish the flames.

The fire destroyed 234 hectares of forest, equivalent to 327 soccer fields, and burned one greenhouse and one farm shed.

There were no casualties, but 134 residents from nearby villages such as Songjeon Village evacuated to the Yurim-myeon Community Sports Center and stayed there for some time.

At the time, police conducted a joint forensic investigation, analyzed CCTV footage, and carried out search and seizure operations. Mr. A was urgently arrested and transferred to the prosecution in custody.

During police questioning, he stated, "I felt exhilarated when watching news about wildfires recently. I could not suppress the urge to set fires and eventually committed the crimes."

Prosecutors later conducted supplementary investigations, including clinical psychological evaluations and fire analysis, and confirmed his motives and methods before referring Mr. A to trial.

The sentencing for Mr. A is scheduled to take place at the same court on September 17 at 1:50 p.m.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.