On March 29, 2025, BLACKPINK’s Rosé found herself in the spotlight due to her Instagram activity, which came amidst the devastating wildfires sweeping across South Korea.
Since March 21, the nation has been grappling with unprecedented wildfires, particularly affecting the southeastern regions. This crisis has prompted over 27,000 evacuations and has inflicted severe damage on both the environment and cultural heritage sites.
In the midst of this environmental disaster, Rosé shared an Instagram story highlighting a fan’s interpretation of one of her outfits, along with the caption:
“These are a few of my favorite things…”
The timing of this post sparked controversy online, as many felt it lacked sensitivity given the ongoing crisis. Critics took to the Korean forum Nate Pann to voice their discontent over Rosé’s choice to post such content while families were displaced and communities faced significant loss.
Conversely, Rosé’s supporters defended her actions, asserting that her post was unrelated to the fires and that the backlash appeared unfounded.
Current Status of South Korea’s Wildfire Crisis
Reporting by AP News on March 27, 2025, confirmed that the wildfires have claimed at least 28 lives, including notable casualties such as a helicopter pilot and two firefighters engaged in rescue operations. Tragically, most fatalities were among the elderly.
In addition, at least 26 others have sustained injuries, with nine individuals in critical condition. The evolving situation has necessitated the evacuation of approximately 37,800 individuals as authorities sought to safeguard those at risk from the flames.
The wildfires have devastated extensive land areas, damaging between 45,000 hectares (111,000 acres) and potentially up to 60,000 hectares (148,000 acres), marking this event as the largest wildfire outbreak in South Korean history. Over 300 buildings, including homes, factories, and vehicles, have been lost, leading to significant economic repercussions for the affected communities.
Among the significant losses was the historic Gounsa Temple, which dates back to 681 AD, suffering the destruction of two of its three national treasures. Firefighters are also racing against time to protect other cultural sites, such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hahoe Folk Village.
In light of the escalating disaster, the South Korean government has declared a state of emergency in the most severely affected regions. Acting President Han Duck-soo underscored the severity of the situation, calling for unity and coordinated efforts to extinguish the fires.
“Damages are snowballing. There are concerns that we’ll have wildfire damages that we’ve never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week,” Acting President Han Duck-soo stated.
To combat the fires, approximately 9,000 firefighters and over 130 helicopters have been deployed. The rapid spread of the fires, exacerbated by high winds and dry conditions in mountainous regions, has made containment efforts extremely challenging. These wildfires have resulted in extensive property damage, threats to natural environments, and adverse impacts on public health.
The air quality in affected areas has plummeted, with concentrations of fine particulate matter soaring. Notably, Andong city recorded a PM2.5 level of 557 µg/m³, which is alarming and nearly seven times above the threshold for extremely poor air quality.
In response to the wildfire crisis, numerous Korean celebrities have stepped forward to assist the victims and aid in recovery efforts. Prominent actors such as IU, Suzy, and Park Bo-young have made contributions to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association, emphasizing the importance of solidarity in these difficult times.
Additionally, K-Pop stars including members of BTS, SEVENTEEN, and TWICE have made generous donations to aid the relief efforts, showcasing the community’s commitment to helping their fellow citizens recover from this catastrophic event.