South Korea Data Fire Cripples 600 Government Sites

A lithium-ion battery explosion ignited a fire at the National Information Resources Service facility in Daejeon, triggering a major South Korea data fire that disabled more than 600 government websites. The blaze, which began Friday evening during battery relocation work, caused a thermal runaway that burned for nearly 10 hours and forced authorities to shut down 647 IT systems to prevent further damage.

The South Korea data fire disrupted postal banking, emergency location tracking, mobile ID systems, and tax services. Travelers faced delays at airports, and government legal databases and email systems went offline. Recovery teams, led by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, prioritized restoring services affecting public safety and the economy.

By Monday, 46 systems, including Government24 and parts of Korea Post’s banking functions, resumed operation. However, officials warned that 96 systems remain difficult to recover. One person suffered minor burns. President Lee Jae Myung ordered improved cybersecurity infrastructure following the incident.

DataCenter Fire Takes 600+ South Korean Government Websites Offline