Toxic Gas Leaks at Jeju Luxury Hotel, Sending 59 to Hospital

Jeju's Seogwipo Grand Josun Hotel suffered a toxic gas leak after swimming pool disinfectants were improperly mixed, sending 59 guests to the hospital.

According to the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters, a report was received at around 10:40 AM today (October 1st) stating that a strong bleach odor was spreading throughout all floors of the Grand Josun Hotel in Jungmun-dong, Seogwipo.

Fire authorities arrived at the scene at 10:50 AM and issued an evacuation broadcast across the entire hotel three minutes later at 10:53 AM.

An investigation revealed that the incident occurred when pool disinfectants were mixed in incorrect proportions, generating and spreading chlorine gas.

Guests at the scene reportedly complained of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and headaches.

At 11:14 AM, fire authorities set up a temporary medical station and requested joint response efforts from relevant agencies, including the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office.

Emergency buses and other vehicles were subsequently dispatched to the scene, and guests evacuated outside.

Out of all 85 rooms currently occupied at the hotel, a total of 59 guests who inhaled the odor and showed abnormal symptoms were transported to hospitals.

Fire authorities are currently assessing the scale of the damage as additional patients continue to emerge.

Fire authorities and related agencies are investigating the exact circumstances of how the disinfectants were mixed and whether other hazardous substances were released.

Previously, on July 10, 2025, an accident occurred in the machine room of an apartment swimming pool in another region where two workers were exposed to chlorine gas generated when a pH control solution, a 9% hydrochloric acid aqueous solution, was mistakenly injected into a sodium hypochlorite storage tank.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Kim Min-ji | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News