People Power Party Wildfire Committee Proposes Special Act for Ultra-Large Wildfire Relief in North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and Ulsan

The People Power Party's Special Committee on Wildfire Disaster Response (chaired by Lee Manhee) announced on the 21st that it has led the proposal of the "Special Act for Relief and Support for Ultra-Large Wildfire Damage in North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and Ulsan" to ensure the prompt recovery from the large-scale wildfires that broke out last month in North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, Ulsan, and other regions.

The massive wildfires that occurred mainly in North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and Ulsan in March resulted in nearly 83 casualties, damage to 9,477 facilities, and a total affected area of 48,238 hectares, making it the largest wildfire disaster on record.

Lee Manhee, member of the People Power Party and chair of the Wildfire Special Committee (Central), is submitting a bill after leading the proposal of the Special Act for Wildfire Damage Support.

Centered around Chair Lee Manhee (three-term lawmaker representing Yeongcheon and Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang), the People Power Party formed the Special Committee on Wildfire Disaster Response. The committee has not only conducted intensive inspections of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, wildfire field command centers, and shelters for evacuees, but has also devoted all efforts to preparing a special act that disaster response authorities and affected residents can tangibly benefit from.

The "Special Act for Wildfire Damage Relief and Support," for which Lee Manhee of the People Power Party took the lead in proposing, consists of a total of 75 articles. Its main provisions include comprehensive support for affected residents and regions without blind spots, restoration and reconstruction efforts to prevent local extinction, strengthening disaster response capabilities for ultra-large wildfires, and providing swift financial and administrative support as well as regulatory exemptions to facilitate rapid recovery.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the area of crop damage caused by these wildfires reached 3,795 hectares, accounting for about 7% of the total affected area. In response to such extensive damage, the special act includes comprehensive support measures such as disaster recovery funds and restoration of production infrastructure for agriculture, fisheries, small business owners, SMEs, and industrial complexes.

Additionally, the act establishes comprehensive recovery support measures, including the development and support of apartment complexes, support for joint farming models, and manufacturing innovation for regional reconstruction. It also provides legal grounds for the establishment of forest investment leading districts and other regional reconstruction measures, as well as for strengthening disaster response capabilities.

Lee Manhee stated, "The scale of human and property damage from this unprecedented wildfire disaster is extremely serious," emphasizing, "Meticulous national-level support is more urgently needed than ever for those who have lost their livelihoods in an instant." He added, "In addition to the Special Act for Wildfire Damage Relief and Support, I have also led the proposal of a partial amendment to the Hometown Love Donation Act to expand local finances and revitalize the local economy in areas declared as special disaster zones. Through this package of bills, I will do my utmost to ensure their passage in the National Assembly plenary session so that residents and local communities can quickly return to their normal lives."

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