Yoon: "Pohang Quickly Declared a Special Disaster Area... Visiting After Cabinet Meeting"

"Immediate Measures Including Special Grants Needed for Disaster Support... Damage Reduced Thanks to Public Cooperation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Seok-yeol announced on the 7th his plan to declare the Pohang area in Gyeongbuk, where typhoon 'Hinnamnor' caused concentrated damage, as a 'special disaster zone.' President Yoon is scheduled to visit Pohang in person on the same day to inspect the damage situation and promised additional disaster support.

On the morning of the same day, while heading to the Yongsan Presidential Office, President Yoon responded to reporters' questions about the declaration of a special disaster zone or support measures for disaster victims, saying, "The declaration of a special disaster zone requires damage investigation and response, but in the case of Pohang, it is judged to be an area where declaration is possible at first glance." He added, "We should proceed with the declaration as quickly as possible," and "If there are any immediate measures such as special grants needed for disaster support, we will take action promptly."

President Yoon also stated, "An unprecedented typhoon has passed. Thanks to the great cooperation of the people, we were able to reduce much of the damage compared to similar past cases of the same scale." He continued, "I was truly unable to sleep as president when residents entered the flooded underground parking lot of an apartment in Pohang to retrieve their vehicles and suffered a tragedy," and said, "Last night, two people were miraculously rescued, which made me once again feel the greatness and respect for life and living."

Earlier, President Yoon visited the Presidential Office's National Crisis Management Center the previous night to check the real-time rescue situation. He made successive phone calls with Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop, Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok, Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo, and Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters Chief Lee Young-pal, urging them to devote all efforts to the search and rescue of missing persons. President Yoon encouraged, "Although the conditions are difficult as rescuers must navigate through darkness and strong currents, I ask the rescue team members not to lose hope, keeping in mind the families of the missing," and added, "I will also deploy all available resources to assist in rescue and search operations. Please stay strong so that even one person can return to their family as soon as possible."

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