'Invisible Heroes' Take the Stage... Yeongdeok County Comprehensive Volunteer Center Holds Volunteer Conference

Volunteer Experience in North Gyeongsang Wildfire Disaster
Strengthening the Disaster Response System

This is the moment when the silent sweat of hard work transforms into light on stage.

The Yeongdeok County Comprehensive Volunteer Center held the '2025 Volunteer Conference' at the Yeongdeok Culture and Sports Center Gymnasium on December 5, where this year's activities were reviewed and outstanding volunteers and organizations were recognized.

Yeongdeok County Comprehensive Volunteer Center to Host 2025 Volunteer Conference. Photo by Yeongdeok County

Under the theme "A Wave of Volunteer Warmth, Reconnecting Yeongdeok's Hope," the event featured a variety of programs, including an annual activity report video, recreational activities, and talent shows, providing volunteers with an opportunity to reflect on the year and encourage one another.

This year's outstanding volunteers were those who played significant roles during the wildfire disaster in North Gyeongsang Province at the end of March, engaging in activities such as operating food trucks at shelters, meal distribution, relief supply allocation, hairdressing and beauty services, and cleaning temporary prefabricated housing. Many of these volunteers were selected as meritorious contributors.

The organizations recognized for excellence included the Yeongdeok County Council for the Right Living Movement, the Yeongdeok County Chapter of the Korean Red Cross, the Yeongdeok County Saemaul Association, the Yeongdeok County Branch of the Korea Home Economics Association, the Yeongdeok County Return-to-Farming and Rural Migration Association, the Residents' Autonomy Committee, the Volunteer Fire Brigade Association, the Yeongdeok Branch of the Korean Federation of Women Voters of North Gyeongsang Province, the Barista Youth Caf? Volunteer Group, the Yeongdeok County Women's Association Council, the Yeongdeok Haesong Lions Club, and the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Construction Technology Division Site Office. In the individual category, Lee Gwangil, CEO of Lee Geon Architecture Office, received the honor.

Kwon Yonggeol, Director of the Center, stated, "Every small gesture you made became a source of hope for residents recovering from disaster," adding, "Every volunteer is a future asset for a happier Yeongdeok County."

Based on this year's experiences, the Yeongdeok County Volunteer Center is strengthening its disaster response system and continuously operating training and lectures, establishing itself as a model case.

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