"Same Damage, Different Support"... Push to Unify Complex 'Donation' System

Launch of the Disaster National Fund Reform Committee
Fixed-rate Consolation Money for Natural Disasters
Variable Donations for Social Disasters
Discussion on Establishing a Unified Fund System

The government will unify the disaster national fund system, which has been operated differently depending on the type of disaster. This decision reflects concerns that there have been differences in the level of support even for similar damages.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on March 18, a reform committee was launched on March 17 to begin discussions on unifying the disaster national fund system.

The government will unify the disaster national fund system, which has been operated differently according to the type of disaster. The photo shows the wildfire damage in the Goseong County area of Gangwon last February. Photo by Yonhap News

The committee was established to collect a wide range of opinions on the disaster national fund and to devise a plan for unification. Fourteen private-sector experts in fields such as fundraising, relief, disaster management, administration, and law are participating as committee members.

Currently, in the case of natural disasters such as typhoons, heavy rains, and earthquakes, consolation money is provided under the Disaster Relief Act. On the other hand, for social disasters such as wildfires, passenger plane accidents, or the Itaewon tragedy, support is provided as donations under the Act on Collection and Use of Donations. As a result, the payment methods and amounts differ depending on the type of disaster.

However, there have been ongoing concerns about fairness because the payment standards differ according to the relevant laws, even when the damages are similar. Consolation money for natural disasters is paid at a fixed amount according to the standards, but in the case of donations for social disasters, the payment amount varies depending on the total amount raised.

The committee is currently discussing ways to ensure that the same amount is paid for the same type of damage, such as casualties or the total destruction of a residence, regardless of the type of disaster. However, to minimize confusion resulting from changes to the system, the committee plans to consult with related agencies, fundraising organizations, and private-sector experts.

Going forward, the committee will thoroughly review public opinion through public hearings and seminars and plans to present specific alternatives to address the issues of the current system. Kwangyong Kim, Director General of the Disaster and Safety Management Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "We will do our utmost to establish a fair system for payment of donations so that the goodwill of the people can be fully delivered to disaster victims and help expedite the recovery of their daily lives, regardless of the type of disaster."

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