Fire broke out near a bus terminal in Goyang, a city just north of South Korea's capital Seoul, leaving fived dead and three injured, the media reported Monday.
The South Korean fire department said that five have been confirmed dead, with three injured, without identifying who the dead were, Xinhua reported citing local broadcaster YTN.
Firefighters said the fire started in the underground shopping centre near the Goyang Express Bus Terminal at 9:05 a.m. and was put out at around 9:29 a.m.
The blaze was believed to have been caused while welding works were being carried out at a snack bar in the shopping centre, but the exact cause was still under investigation.
Just above the shopping centre, there is a building of discount outlet Homeplus, which accommodates a movie-theater. When the fire broke out, the discount chain was not opened.