Distribution Industry Steps Up with Donations and Relief Supplies for Wildfire-Affected Areas

Relief supply kit supported by Lotte.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The distribution industry has actively stepped up to support the victims of the large-scale wildfires that occurred in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, and Samcheok, Gangwon.

According to the industry on the 6th, Lotte donated 1 billion KRW to the Community Chest of Korea to help wildfire victims and is providing relief kits and daily necessities. 300 emergency relief kits were proactively delivered on the 5th to temporary housing facilities in Uljin, Gyeongbuk through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association, and the remaining 700 kits are planned to be sent to the affected areas.

Lotte Holdings and Lotte Distribution Headquarters plan to provide an additional 23,000 relief items such as bottled water and cup noodles through close communication with the disaster sites. They are also considering supporting volunteer kits including gloves and masks needed at the disaster recovery sites.

Shinsegae Group has also joined the support efforts. Emart is delivering relief supplies such as bottled water, snacks, blankets, and hot packs urgently needed by victims through stores near the affected areas, including Donghae, Pohang Idong, and Gangneung branches, on the 5th and 6th. Emart, Emart24, and Emart Everyday plan to quickly provide additional relief supplies using stores close to the affected areas, and are currently consulting with disaster relief organizations regarding this.

The convenience store industry has also joined the support efforts. BGF Retail, which operates CU, activated the national disaster emergency relief activity ‘BGF Bridge’ and immediately delivered relief supplies to the disaster sites through two centers, BGF Logis Daegu Center and Chilgok Center, upon receiving support requests. A total of 3,000 servings of food and beverages such as bread, drinks, bottled water, chocolate bars, and cup noodles are being supplied to victims and firefighting personnel.

GS Retail also delivered about 20,000 emergency relief items to each on-site command center through its logistics centers. The relief supplies mainly consisted of food items urgently requested in the affected areas, such as cup noodles, beverages, and bread. GS25 employees responsible for the Gyeongbuk and Gangwon regions are also known to have voluntarily joined the support efforts by helping unload and organize supplies at the sites.

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