Hong Eui-rak "Declaration of Daegu·Gyeongbuk as Special Disaster Area? No Practical Effect"

Hong Eui-rak, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Hong Eui-rak, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Daegu Buk-gu Eul), said on the 24th that he "cannot understand at all" the United Future Party's claim that the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions should be declared special disaster areas.

On the same day, Hong posted on his Facebook, "The United Future Party continues to demand that Daegu and Gyeongbuk be declared special disaster areas," adding, "I am only astonished as former administrative officials and prospective candidates raise their voices."

Regarding the claim to declare special disaster areas, he said, "It is ineffective," and added, "Support for private property or individuals is extremely limited, and support for local governments is confined to administrative and financial assistance, falling far short of the substantial help residents desire."

He continued, "The claim for special disaster areas is a sign of ignorance, unless it is a political lament," and said, "If lawmakers from Daegu and Gyeongbuk make such claims, it only reveals how indifferent they were to the Pohang earthquake and the Yeongdeok typhoon. The same goes for the Gangwon wildfires. It is pathetic."

Previously, in November 2017, Pohang City in Gyeongbuk, which suffered earthquake damage; Yeongdeok County in Gyeongbuk, which was hit by a typhoon in October 2018; and Goseong County, Sokcho City, Gangneung City, Donghae City, and Inje County in Gangwon Province, which experienced wildfire damage in April last year, were designated as special disaster areas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.