President Moon: "Hope for Meaningful Participation in Disaster Relief Fund Donations... Will Be Used to Support the Unemployed" (Update)

President Moon Jae-in is presiding over a senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House on the afternoon of the 4th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in said on the 3rd, regarding the emergency disaster relief fund application process that began for all citizens, "We have established a system that allows voluntary donations," adding, "It is a call for the entire nation to unite and overcome the economic crisis together." He continued, "The donations will be used to maintain employment and support the unemployed," and added, "Whether large or small, these acts of solidarity with neighbors in need will become a source of strength to overcome the national crisis."

On the same day, President Moon presided over a senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House and said, "The sense of fulfillment and pride felt from donating is the reward," urging, "I hope those who are able and willing will participate." However, he emphasized, "Donations are a voluntary act of goodwill and cannot and should not be coerced," and stated, "Even if one is not in a position to donate, simply spending the disaster relief funds contributes to revitalizing the weakened domestic economy."

President Moon said, "It is a positive development that the movement to voluntarily donate disaster relief funds is spreading," and reported, "The will to donate is being gathered across society, including company employees and religious groups." He expressed deep respect for the spirit of solidarity and cooperation among citizens aiming to overcome the national crisis and expressed gratitude. He also stressed, "The government will do its utmost to ensure that the donations collected with the sincerity of the people are used most effectively where they are needed, for those in difficulty."

Starting today, the government began distributing emergency disaster relief funds to 2.8 million low-income households, including basic livelihood security recipients, as a priority due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are also being accepted online for general households. President Moon said, "This is a message of comfort and encouragement to citizens struggling due to COVID-19, and I hope it will also help to some extent to revitalize the economy," adding, "The government will do its best to ensure that the emergency disaster relief funds, being distributed for the first time in history, are delivered quickly and conveniently to the people."

Regarding the logistics center fire disaster in Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province, which resulted in 38 deaths, President Moon pointed out, "It is a very backward and shameful accident in that similar accidents in the past have repeated themselves in the form of a large-scale disaster," emphasizing, "It is urgent to properly investigate the cause of the accident."

He particularly stated, "After the 2008 frozen warehouse fire accident, safety measures were established to prevent similar accidents, and our government has also strengthened fire safety measures, but it must be clearly revealed why these measures did not function properly on site," and instructed, "Please thoroughly investigate why safety regulations were not properly followed and hold those responsible for management and supervision strictly accountable."

President Moon said, "This is a tragic and heartbreaking event," and expressed "deep condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families." He also requested, "Relevant ministries should wholeheartedly support the families so that they can conduct funerals properly and ensure thorough economic support such as industrial accident compensation."

Regarding the wildfire in Goseong County, Gangwon Province, which occurred during the recent holiday period, he said, "The wind was so strong that a high wind advisory was issued, and it could have easily led to a large-scale wildfire, but it was contained with relatively little damage," evaluating, "This is the result of improving the wildfire response system by learning from last year's Gangwon wildfire experience." Unlike last year, this wildfire caused no casualties and the damage area was reduced.

President Moon said, "The transition of firefighters to national government employees has enabled rapid dispatch, and the regularization of the Korea Forest Service's special wildfire suppression teams has greatly enhanced the professionalism of wildfire suppression personnel," adding, "I commend the dedication of the Korea Forest Service staff, firefighters, public officials of Gangwon Province and Goseong County, as well as military personnel who devoted themselves to wildfire suppression." He also expressed gratitude to the local residents who evacuated quickly and cooperated.

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