Oh Se-hoon - Kim In-ho, Rarely Join Forces to Support Uljin and Samcheok Wildfire Relief

Chairman Kim In-ho Proposes to Seoul City on the 5th for Rapid Fire Suppression and Emergency Relief Supplies Using External Cooperation Fund for Uljin and Samcheok Wildfires... Mayor Oh Se-hoon Decides to Provide 400 Million Won Emergency Support for Uljin and Samcheok Wildfire Damage Recovery

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, have for the first time in a while united over support for the wildfires in Uljin and Samcheok.

The two, who had been in conflict over the Seoul city budget, joined hands to overcome the crisis.

First, Chairman Kim In-ho proposed to Seoul City on the 5th the rapid extinguishing of the wildfires in the Uljin and Samcheok areas and the urgent support of relief supplies using the external cooperation fund.

In response, Mayor Oh Se-hoon also made a sudden decision to provide emergency support of 400 million won for the recovery from the Uljin and Samcheok wildfire damage.

Accordingly, Chairman Kim expressed his gratitude for Mayor Oh’s decision through SNS that afternoon.

The wildfire that started around 11:17 a.m. on the 4th in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, had burned an area equivalent to 8,496 soccer fields as of 7:30 a.m. on the 5th, and about 90 buildings were destroyed. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.

Seoul City also actively utilized the external cooperation fund during the wildfire outbreak in the Goseong area in April 2019 by urgently deploying helicopters, fire trucks, and about 600 firefighters to the fire site, providing relief supplies such as bottled water Arisu for the victims, and supporting emergency disaster recovery.

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Council proposed emergency support measures to Seoul City during the nationwide floods in August 2020 in Gangwon, Chungcheong, Gwangju, and Jeolla regions, and Seoul City immediately accepted this and provided relief supplies worth a total of 600 million won to seven metropolitan cities and provinces.

Chairman Kim In-ho stated, “We must devote all efforts to early extinguishing to prevent casualties and minimize property damage until the wildfire ends,” adding, “Since the wildfires in Uljin, Gyeongbuk and Samcheok, Gangwon are still not under control and many evacuees have already occurred, active cooperation and support at the national level as well as from local governments nationwide are urgently needed.” He also said, “Although Seoul City has already put much effort into extinguishing the fire that broke out in Guryong Village, Gaepo-dong, Seoul the day before, I ask for united efforts once again to minimize nationwide disaster damage,” emphasizing, “In difficult times, the role of Seoul, as the eldest brother of the nation, is important.”

Chairman Kim emphasized, “In particular, evacuees are exposed not only to property and psychological damage caused by the wildfire but also to health and safety risks amid the strong spread of COVID-19, so more active and prompt support is necessary.”

Finally, Chairman Kim expressed deep condolences to the residents of the disaster areas who suffered great damage during these difficult times and added, “Seoul City and the Seoul Metropolitan Council will actively take the lead in the early extinguishing of the wildfire and ensuring the safety of evacuees.”

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