South Korea high-rise fire safety under scrutiny after Hong Kong tragedy

The deadly blaze that engulfed a densely populated Hong Kong residential complex has prompted scrutiny in South Korea over whether its high-rise residential and commercial buildings are adequately prepared to prevent and respond to similar disasters. High-rise living in South Korea has skyrocketed in the past decade. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of buildings with 25 or more floors climbed from 8,268 in 2013 to 21,033 in 2023. Of South Korea’s 11.67...