Minju, 350 Lawmakers and Staff Brave Scorching Heat for Flood Relief Volunteer Effort 'All Hands on Deck'

Visit to Flood-Affected Areas in Buyeo-gun, Chungnam
Lee Jae-myung Also Diligently Working in Casual Attire
Democratic Party "Will Improve Damage Assessment System"

On the 25th, the area around Jeongdong-ri, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungnam was a muddy field to the extent that it was impossible to distinguish between rice paddies and roads. Inside the greenhouse, which was left with only its frame, rotten watermelons, melons, and cucumbers barely retained their shapes and were scattered everywhere. Due to the hot and humid weather that made people sweat just by breathing, a rotten stench permeated around the crops.

The Democratic Party of Korea recently visited the flood-affected areas in Buyeo-gun, Chungnam, where damage from heavy rain was rampant, to assist with recovery efforts. About 350 people, including party leader Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party lawmakers, party officials, and members, were deployed. The volunteer work, which started at 10 a.m., took place under sweltering heat.

As drizzle fell and the humid weather continued, they armed themselves with wide-brimmed hats, boots, towels, and other personal supplies to remove the muddy watermelons, melons, and other crops. The party leadership also wore towels around their necks and focused on the work.

Members and staff of the Democratic Party of Korea are volunteering for flood recovery work on the 25th in Buyeo-gun, Chungnam.
[Photo by Ryu Taemin]

The lawmakers gathered vines inside the greenhouse and organized them in one place, pulling out piles of plastic sheeting. The weight was considerable, and the slippery floor caused some lawmakers to stagger. Leader Lee Jae-myung, wearing a gray checkered short-sleeve shirt and boots, thinned out Shine Muscat grapes that had rotted due to flooding inside the greenhouse. Floor leader Park Kwang-on removed vines and discarded plastic multiple times at a watermelon farm.

After the morning schedule ended, the lawmakers gathered in small groups at a nearby greenhouse for a ‘lunch box meal.’ In the afternoon, as the scorching sun intensified the heat, party leader Lee Jae-myung said, “This time of day is very dangerous. Workers don’t work during this time,” and advised rest, saying, “It’s very hot inside the greenhouse, so be careful not to suddenly collapse.”

Floor leader Park Kwang-on told reporters during the volunteer work, “Even though we work only briefly, it’s this hard, so it must be very difficult for farmers to do everything by hand,” adding, “Our support for recovery means not only helping with labor but also sharing the pain of the people.”

Members and aides of the Democratic Party of Korea are volunteering for flood recovery on the 25th in Buyeo-gun, Chungnam. They are carrying piles of vines out of the farms themselves.
[Photo by Ryu Taemin]

Leader Lee said on the day, "Through legal reforms, the community should move toward a society that shares more support and responsibility for disaster damage," and added, "I hope the ruling and opposition parties will work together to swiftly amend the laws related to flood damage."

He continued, "Many disasters can be avoided depending on the attitude of public officials and where they focus their attention," emphasizing, "We need to reflect on these shortcomings and quickly establish institutional measures where lacking."

He also positively evaluated the government’s swift declaration of the heavy rain-affected areas as ‘special disaster zones.’ Leader Lee said, "The most common request heard at the disaster flood damage sites was to quickly declare disaster zones," and added, "Fortunately, the government promptly declared the disaster zones this time, which is commendable."

He further urged additional budget allocation, saying, "While volunteer work is important, more crucial is the government’s large-scale damage support through swift supplementary budget allocation." Floor leader Park Kwang-on also stated, “Currently, the government and ruling party oppose the supplementary budget issue, but saving money is for necessary spending,” and emphasized, “I intend to stress the need for the supplementary budget.”

Leader Lee also highlighted the unified appeals from many flood victims regarding the severe lack of institutional compensation and support, urging the ruling and opposition parties to cooperate in discussing flood recovery support measures.

The ruling and opposition parties are expected to discuss related legislation at the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow (the 26th).

The Environment and Labor Committee, which has a backlog of related laws including the Urban River Basin Flood Damage Prevention Act (Urban Flood Act) and amendments to the River Act, had originally scheduled a full meeting for the 28th. However, controversy arose when Park Jeong, a Democratic Party member and chair of the committee, went on a business trip to Vietnam with fellow party members Park Byeong-seok, Choi Gi-sang, and Yoon Jun-byeong, leading to the meeting being rescheduled earlier.

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