Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon Participates in Flood Recovery Volunteer Work in Gapyeong

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] As Gyeonggi Province continues flood recovery efforts by dispatching volunteer corps to areas around Gapyeong-gun, which suffered significant damage from heavy rainfall, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited the volunteer site on July 31st and participated in the recovery work.

Governor Kim visited the damage site in Sangmyeon Yulgil 1-ri, Gapyeong-gun to check on recovery progress. Upon seeing torn vinyl tents and fields covered with soil, he immediately put on gloves and participated in flood recovery work.

Yulgil 1-ri is an area where vineyard acreage makes up over 90% of all farmland. Due to the heavy downpour, rocks and tree branches from nearby mountains were swept down into the fields.

Governor Kim bagged soil and moved it outside the fields, and worked with volunteers to remove vinyl from tents. He also guided volunteers to use rest shelters and coffee trucks to avoid exhaustion from the heat.

Governor Kim told staff members participating in the volunteer activity, "Think of these as damages to your own family, and do your best with sincerity and dedication. And please take care of your own safety and health." To Gapyeong-gun Mayor Seo Tae-won and the head of the damaged village, he said, "I have already purchased agricultural products such as pine nuts from Gapyeong-damaged areas. Now that I am here, I will also purchase grapes once they are harvested," expressing his commitment to efforts in selling local agricultural products.

Governor Kim also greeted soldiers participating in the volunteer work that day and said, "Given the Chæ incident and other circumstances, Gyeonggi Province established military personnel insurance. Injury insurance is applicable to all military personnel who come for public service to Gyeonggi Province regardless of resident registration status. In addition to the existing 'Military Service Gyeonggi Youth Injury Insurance,' with the new 'Disaster Recovery Support Military Personnel Injury Insurance,' all soldiers coming to support disaster recovery can receive the same insurance benefits with no blind spots."

Gyeonggi Province has been implementing the 'Disaster Recovery Support Military Personnel Injury Insurance' program since June of last year, a first nationwide initiative.

Governor Kim's visit to Gapyeong was the third since the flood occurred. On July 20th, when the flood struck Gapyeong, Governor Kim visited the site and ordered the establishment of an integrated support headquarters for swift flood recovery. He also called Minister of Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung to recommend that Gapyeong-gun be immediately designated as a special disaster area. On July 22nd, Governor Kim again visited Gapyeong-gun and ordered the distribution of Gyeonggi Province's 'Daily Life Recovery Support Fund' to small business owners damaged by flooding. Nine days later, Governor Kim visited Gapyeong-gun again and demonstrated his commitment by taking the lead in flood recovery volunteer work.

Starting with 60 Gyeonggi Province civil servants on July 23rd, Gyeonggi Province has been deploying volunteer personnel to flood-affected areas daily. As of July 31st, the number of volunteers deployed to the Gapyeong-gun site through volunteer centers has reached 2,570.

On this day as well, approximately 80 people, including the Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Center, Gyeonggi Province Youth Volunteer Corps, and civil servants, participated in recovery work in Yulgil 1-ri. On July 31st alone, in addition to Gyeonggi Province civil servants, 275 volunteers from volunteer centers in municipalities such as Uijeongbu, Gunpo, Bucheon, and Hwaseong, as well as Gangwon Province, visited Gapyeong-gun and worked on removing soil from buried farmland and flooded homes.

Meanwhile, on July 24th, Gyeonggi Province provided 3 billion won from the disaster management fund for swift emergency recovery in eight municipalities affected by the disaster: Gapyeong, Pocheon, Uijeongbu, Hwaseong, Namyangju, Yeoncheon, Yeoju, and Icheon. The province is providing financial support including 'Special Disaster Relief Business Funds' and 'Disaster Special Guarantees' for affected small and medium businesses and small business owners in flood areas. In particular, for Gapyeong-gun, which suffered severe damage, the province plans to separately provide 'Daily Life Recovery Support Funds' including 6 million won plus for small business owners, up to 10 million won including farm demolition costs, and 30 million won in bereaved family consolation money.