[Report] Landslide Chaos, Democratic Party's 5-Hour Recovery Support... "Please Come Again Next Time"

[Jeonbuk=Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] “When people come together and clean everything up, it comforts the residents.”

Kim Boo-kyum, a candidate running for party leader in the August 29 Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) convention, said this while watching the last truck carrying away waste.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 12th, Kim and other candidates for party leader and supreme council member of the DPK visited the flood damage site in Honam to participate in recovery efforts. The area they visited, Geumji-myeon in Namwon City, Jeonbuk, suffered flood damage due to the collapse of embankments caused by the overflow of the Seomjin River basin. There were 2,200 reported damage sites, and the entire village was affected.

Most villagers are farmers, so damage to greenhouses and farmland was particularly severe. Muddy water remained pooled in the fields, and young chili pepper plants were soaked and drooping. At the village entrance, flooded refrigerators and other home appliances, along with broken housing materials, were piled up like a mountain. The flood site is first detected by the nose rather than the eyes. The rotting materials and spilled pesticide bottles emitted a mixed smell of food waste and petroleum. Freshwater fish that had entered during the flood but could not escape were rotting on the road, proving that water had filled the inner village. Excavators continuously gathered and transported waste.

Although there were criticisms that the visit was later than that of the United Future Party, residents welcomed the Democratic Party warmly. The village chief of Geumji-myeon raised his hand during the briefing by the mayor of Namwon and said, “Five myeon villages suffered a total damage of about 1 trillion won. Houses were all damaged. We sincerely ask for your utmost efforts.”

Candidate Lee Nak-yeon said, “I can say that support has become more detailed than in the past,” and added, “I expect an additional special disaster area declaration within a few days, and either the entire city of Namwon or the severely damaged myeon areas will be included.” Lee also helped remove soil that had filled a room by scooping it into a bucket and took off mud-covered glass windows. He encouraged the soldiers of the 35th Division who were helping by saying, “Whenever there is a disaster, the manpower and equipment of the soldiers are essential. We are grateful.” Lee then left Geumji-myeon to continue his schedule in Gurye, Jeonnam, and Hadong, Gyeongnam.

Remaining at the site, candidates Kim Boo-kyum and Park Jumin decided to take charge of cleaning individual houses. “Mother, if you tell us what you use and what you don’t, we will sort and clean accordingly,” said Kim, who, as a former Minister of the Interior and Safety, quickly organized the situation and proceeded with recovery. Amid the chaos of soil, greenhouse materials, and pesticide containers, Kim sorted waste and household items and shoveled soil.

On the 12th, candidates running in the Democratic Party's national convention participated in the restoration work of houses damaged by flooding in Geumji-myeon, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk. (Photo by Jeon Jin-young)

Min Hong-chul, chairman of the central party election commission, supreme council candidate Shin Dong-geun, and lawmaker Kwon In-sook also silently participated by carrying boxes and clearing materials. After about an hour of work, the flooded warehouse regained its original appearance to some extent.

Watching Kim organize according to the homeowner’s instructions, “This way, that way,” the homeowner’s worried expression softened, and she expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much, please come again.” Kim told reporters with a proud expression, “The mother’s expression changed. When people come together and say we will help like this, that feeling is conveyed.”

Candidate Park, along with supreme council candidates Lee Won-wook and Han Byung-do, cleaned another house. There was an accident where Han got his leg caught between a wheelbarrow and a truck carrying waste, which the truck driver did not see. After simple first aid, Han returned to the site and finished the work.

The Democratic Party completed recovery work in about five hours. When reporters asked Kim, “Minister, please share your thoughts,” he replied, “It’s been a long time since I was minister, so please call me comfortably,” and said, “I believe that showing the devastated residents that the people are with them and seeing everyone working hard provided a small but significant comfort to them.”

Candidate Park also emphasized, “I tried to help a lot, but I don’t know how much help it was,” and added, “I will work hard for speedy damage recovery.”

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