Single-phase-to-ground-fault　arcs　in　distribution　networks　may　frequently　cause　forest　fires　and　burning　of　electrical　equipment.　The　magnitude　and　composition　of　the　ground-fault　current　change　profoundly　with　the　increasing　scale　and　nonlinear　load　of　the　distribution　networks.　This　poses　a　huge　challenge　to　the　suppression　of　ground　arcs　by　traditional　arc　suppression　devices.　However,　flexible　arc　suppression　technology　can　be　adopted　to　effectively　solve　the　problems　of　traditional　arc　suppression　devices.　This　paper　analyzes　the　adaptability　and　economy　of　flexible　arc　suppression　technology　from　the　view　of　arc　suppression　theory　and　multifunctional　collaborative　control　strategy.　At　the　same　time,　the　existing　flexible　arc　suppression　devices,　arc　suppression　principles　and　multi-functional　integration　methods　at　home　and　abroad　are　sorted　out.　And　the　key　technical　characteristics　of　existing　flexible　arc　suppression　technology　are　summarized.　Then　the　main　problems　of　existing　flexible　arc　suppression　technology　are　discussed.　Finally,　the　future　research　direction　is　expected　to　provide　a　reference　for　the　engineering　application　and　promotion　of　flexible　arc　suppression　technology　after　analyzing　the　development　trend　of　the　distribution　networks　towards　flexibility　and　the　user’s　requirements　for　power　supply　reliability.　©　2023　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.