Incheon Coupang Logistics Center Fire Extinguished After Four Days

A major fire broke out at the Coupang logistics center in Seoknam‑dong, Incheon, on 18 July at 06:54 UTC. The blaze, which started on the sixth floor, spread to the seventh floor and other sections of the complex, hampered by a mezzanine layout and large stores of combustible goods, including lithium‑battery‑filled robots. Fire crews deployed 239 fire‑fighting vehicles and 845 personnel, escalating the response to national‑level fire‑dispatch orders. After roughly 119 hours and 40 minutes of intensive work, the fire was fully extinguished at 20:35 on 22 July. No deaths were reported; 121 employees evacuated safely, though one firefighter was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and another for exhaustion.

A separate incident occurred on 23 July at the Coupang center in Jangmokpo‑gu, where firefighters reported that the fire had self‑extinguished, stating, “자체 진화가 완료된 것으로 보인다.” Investigations by the police, the National Forensic Service and other agencies are underway to determine the exact cause and assess any material damage.

The incidents prompted a joint inspection team of eight agencies, including the Fire Services Headquarters and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, to analyze fire origins, structural factors, and potential regulatory improvements.