'Overcoming COVID-19' Vaccination Support Sees Participation of 45,000 Volunteers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] More than 45,000 volunteers worked hard on the front lines to support the full-scale COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

On the 16th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that from May 10 to June 11, a total of 45,455 volunteers participated at vaccination centers operated by local governments nationwide.

The Ministry guided 246 volunteer centers across the country to transition into integrated COVID-19 vaccination volunteer support groups, and currently, 223 volunteer centers have completed this transition.

Volunteers are active in waiting areas, vaccination zones, and post-vaccination zones at the centers, taking on roles such as maintaining order, providing guidance, and assisting with administrative support.

Notably, volunteers from various age groups and professions participated. In Changwon, Gyeongnam, members of the Sarang Volunteer Group with medical experience collectively supported vaccination center volunteer activities, contributing their expertise through talent donation. In Gwangju, a local orchestra performed healing music on the second floor of the vaccination center, while bright-colored artworks were exhibited nearby to help visitors psychologically relax during their vaccination visit. The Daejeon Volunteer Association supported vaccination center operations by providing guidance and mobility assistance, as well as operating a ‘Love Meal Truck’ for medical staff and operational personnel.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to continuously share these excellent cases and, through year-end volunteer merit awards, recognize volunteers and groups who have dedicated themselves to overcoming COVID-19 by supporting vaccination center operations.

Additionally, on the 17th, a meeting will be held with the heads of volunteer centers from 17 cities and provinces to share regional volunteer activity achievements and listen to on-site difficulties.

Park Seong-ho, Director of Local Autonomy and Decentralization at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "I express deep respect and gratitude for the hard work and dedication of volunteers participating in COVID-19 vaccination support activities," and urged, "I ask local volunteer center heads to carefully oversee the sites to ensure the safe activities of volunteers."

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