‘Suncheon Citizens' Kind Hands’ Shined Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

Donation of 270 Million Won and 17,800 Masks Collected

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] According to the March population statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the citizens of Suncheon-si, which rose to become the No. 1 city in Jeonnam, are showing not only the highest population numbers but also the highest level of civic consciousness characterized by the spirit of consideration and sharing.

According to Suncheon-si, starting with Suncheon Open Church in early March when COVID-19 became socially serious, in addition to donations sent by financial institutions such as Suncheon Nonghyup and various associations, about 207 million won in donations was collected, including coins from piggy banks brought by anonymous citizens and small hands of children.

Along with donations of about 9,400 protective masks and 8,400 cloth masks, hand sanitizers, scorched rice, pear juice, and other goods, Hyunseong Co., Ltd. has also been contributing its talents by providing free electrical facilities to the screening clinic and night situation room of the public health center, which are key to COVID-19 quarantine in the Suncheon area.

Heartwarming news has also been heard. Mr. Oh Young-mook (73 years old), who lives in Maegok-dong and is battling cancer, moved those around him to tears by donating 3.51 million won in celebration of his 35th wedding anniversary, thinking of his wife who he lost in an unfortunate accident.

Voluntary volunteer activities by citizens are also shining. Members of the Suncheon Model Drivers Association and the Sarang Sil Eun Traffic Volunteer Corps have been voluntarily conducting disinfection services targeting taxis and private passenger cars for a month to ensure citizens’ safety, while young members of Samsan-dong and the quarantine specialist company M-Star Co., Ltd. have been carrying out free disinfection activities on weekends at welfare facilities such as Yegwang Village, bus stops, and multi-use places like one-room apartments in the region.

In addition, self-governing organizations such as the heads of 24 towns and townships and residents’ autonomy committees in the district have organized joint autonomous quarantine teams to conduct disinfection activities by visiting vulnerable areas such as communal restrooms and households in difficulty, distributing masks purchased at their own expense, and playing a significant role on the front lines of COVID-19 quarantine.

Furthermore, fruit farmers in Woldeung-myeon are also contributing to the COVID-19 quarantine efforts by using high-speed sprayers (SS machines) used in orchards to disinfect public facilities, demonstrating an all-out effort between the public and private sectors without distinction.

Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon said, “Suncheon City is doing its best to overcome the difficult wave of COVID-19, but the ‘invisible hands’ of Suncheon citizens who want to stop COVID-19 are playing a bigger role,” and expressed his gratitude, saying, “I feel great pride in the citizens’ appearance shown so far.”

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