300 Members of the National Assembly and Aides Sweat It Out at Flood Damage Sites Amid Scorching Heat

Visiting Flood-Affected Areas in Cheongju, Chungbuk on the 24th
Volunteer Efforts to Restore Pumpkin and Cucumber Greenhouses Amid Morning Rain and Afternoon Heatwave Conditions

Over 300 members of the People Power Party, including lawmakers and aides, visited flood-affected areas near Cheongju, Chungbuk on the 24th to assist with recovery efforts. The volunteer work, which began at 9 a.m., was carried out amid rain and mud in the morning and under sweltering heat after the rain stopped in the afternoon.

About 80 lawmakers and 200 aides arrived by bus in the morning and were divided into nine groups for volunteer activities. As raindrops poured near Cheongju until the morning, they were equipped with their own supplies such as rain boots, wide-brimmed hats, aprons, and raincoats. The party leadership also arrived at the site dressed casually in short-sleeved T-shirts with towels around their necks, unlike usual.

Before departing for the volunteer site at the vinyl greenhouse, Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "This area has been severely affected by flooding, and there were many casualties in the underground passage. Please be well aware of the situation." He added, "We have already sent detailed instructions on volunteer work, safety, and precautions to each office via text messages. Please do not go to dangerous places during the activities, and if any party members or staff are struggling, please let them rest."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The dirt road to the vinyl greenhouse was slippery and sticky due to the mud left by the flood, making movement difficult. Inside the vinyl greenhouse, rotten cucumbers and pumpkins were mixed with mud and scattered around, emitting a strong stench. The humid and hot environment caused sweat to flow just by standing still. Dried and crumbled vines turned to powder, prompting a local official to loudly announce, "You must wear masks before entering." Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo sighed while inspecting the inside of the greenhouse, saying, "The farmers must be heartbroken. The crops they worked so hard to grow have all ended up like this."

The lawmakers first removed the vines hanging on the clips inside the greenhouse and separated them, then pulled out the piled-up plastic sheets. However, in the early stages, the lawmakers crowded into the narrow space, and work distribution was not properly managed. As the work was wrapping up, a resident who volunteered shouted, "Everyone taking pictures, please leave. We can't work. All the important people should just go. We only need to remove the plastic."

After finishing the cleanup of 23 vinyl greenhouses assigned as the first task earlier than expected, the lawmakers moved to nearby greenhouses after a 'gimbap lunch.' Their task was to handle the vines spread on the greenhouse floors. Lawmakers and aides worked in groups of two or three, lifting the middle of the vines or rolling them up to pull them outside. Within 10 minutes, a huge pile of vines was gathered outside. As the rain stopped and the sun came out, raising concerns about exhaustion, Assemblyman Jeong Hee-yong encouraged, "Take breaks according to your stamina while working."

Members and aides of the People Power Party are volunteering for flood recovery in Cheongju, Chungbuk on the 24th. Within about 10 minutes of starting the volunteer work, vines piled up outside the greenhouse.
Photo by Kim Young-won

During the volunteer work, Floor Leader Yoon told reporters, "What I felt at the flood site is that the situation is much more serious than what we knew from media reports. We will carefully review whether there are additional budgetary supports we can provide besides the party's volunteer efforts, legislative measures, and the declaration of a special disaster area."

Regarding the ruling party and government's responsibility for this flood, he said, "The ruling party and government naturally bear responsibility for all disasters," but added, "Whether individual responsibility can be assigned is something that needs to be judged after investigation."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party lawmakers who participated in the volunteer work appeared to focus quietly on volunteering rather than taking photos or giving interviews, seemingly mindful of last year's controversies such as the 'flood-related slander.' When a woman, apparently a party committee member, called out to a lawmaker saying, "Assemblyman!" and tried to take a photo, the lawmaker shook his head and left the scene.

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