Middle school student sets fire to sofa in Namwon coin karaoke room; no injuries
In short
A fire broke out at about 5:01 pm on October 8 in a basement coin karaoke room in Cheongeo-dong, Namwon, North Jeolla, after a middle school student set a sofa alight with a lighter and left, according to fire authorities. The fire burned one 30-square-metre room and caused about 6 million won in damage by the fire station's estimate; no one was hurt. Police are investigating.
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A fire broke out at about 5:01 pm on October 8 in a coin karaoke room (코인노래방) on the first basement level of a building in Cheongeo-dong (천거동), Namwon, North Jeolla, according to the Jeonbuk fire headquarters and police. The fire burned one room of about 30 square metres along with the karaoke machine and sofa inside it, causing about 6 million won in property damage by the fire station's estimate. It was put out in about 30 minutes. No one was injured. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Fire authorities found that a middle school student who had been playing with friends in the room set the sofa on fire with a lighter and then left, Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo reported. CBS NoCut News, citing Namwon police, described the person as a teenage girl identified only as A, and said fire and police officers were dispatched after a customer reported smoke and a burning smell coming from the karaoke room. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Reports differ on the state of the police inquiry. Hankook Ilbo reported that police were confirming the student's identity. CBS NoCut News reported that, although the girl left the karaoke room after the fire started, police had taken custody of her and handed her over to her guardians, and that police plan to question her about why she lit the fire. [ 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap described the fire as presumed arson. A police official quoted by CBS NoCut News said police are investigating whether it was arson or accidental, adding that details could not be disclosed because the case is under investigation. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
Police said they are investigating whether the fire was set deliberately or by accident, and plan to question the student about why she lit it. One outlet reported she has been handed over to her guardians.
Key facts
- The fire started at about 5:01 pm on October 8 in a coin karaoke room (코인노래방) on the first basement level of a building in Cheongeo-dong (천거동), Namwon. [ 1 , 2 ]
- One room of about 30 square metres, with a karaoke machine and sofa inside, was burned. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Property damage was about 6 million won, according to the fire station's estimate. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The fire was put out in about 30 minutes. [ 1 , 2 ]
- No one was injured. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Fire authorities found that a middle school student who had been playing with friends in the room lit the sofa with a lighter and then left. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Police are investigating whether the fire was arson or accidental. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A fire broke out on the afternoon of October 8 in a basement coin karaoke room in Cheongeo-dong, Namwon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A student who was with friends set the sofa on fire with a lighter. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- No one was injured. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The fire caused about 6 million won in damage and was extinguished in about 30 minutes. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Police are investigating the fire. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the fire was set deliberately or by accident. Yonhap described the fire as presumed arson, while a police official quoted by CBS NoCut News said police are investigating whether it was arson or accidental.
- Whether police have located the student. Hankook Ilbo reported police were still confirming the student's identity, while CBS NoCut News reported police had taken custody of her and handed her to her guardians.
- Why the student lit the sofa. Police said they plan to investigate the reason and declined to give details because the case is under investigation.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 8: Fire breaks out in a basement coin karaoke room in Cheongeo-dong, Namwon. [ 1 , 2 ]
- October 9: Yonhap reports the fire. [ 1 ]
- October 9: Hankook Ilbo reports that police are confirming the student's identity. [ 2 ]
- October 9: CBS NoCut News reports police have secured the teenager and handed her to her guardians. [ 3 ]