Kim Dong-yeon: "Supporting Emergency Recovery Funds... If We Cannot Protect Society's Vulnerable and Neighbors, the State Has No Reason to Exist"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province announced support for emergency recovery funds to residents affected by heavy rains, pledging to protect society's vulnerable and neighbors.

Governor Kim announced through SNS on the 16th that Gyeonggi Province will immediately support 10 billion won in emergency recovery funds, providing 300 million won to regions with the largest damage and 100 million won and 50 million won to other regions.

Governor Kim continued, "While this disaster relief fund will not be sufficient to alleviate the suffering and inconvenience residents are experiencing from flood damage, I earnestly hope it helps even a little. Through this concentrated downpour, I will once again remember that disasters are not equal to all people, and I will keep in mind that if we cannot protect society's vulnerable and neighbors from disasters, the nation has no reason to exist."

The following is the full text of Governor Kim Dong-yeon's SNS post.

<Disasters Are Not Equal to All People>
Gyeonggi Province is moving forward with immediate support of 1 billion won in emergency recovery funds to help residents affected by record-breaking heavy rains that occurred once in 115 years quickly recover their daily lives.
First, we will provide 300 million won each to three cities and counties—Yangpyeong, Yeoju, and Gwangju—which suffered the largest damage. We will support 100 million won each to six cities and counties including Hwaseong, Yongin, Seongnam, Hanam, Uiwang, and Yeoncheon. For the remaining 22 cities and counties, we plan to provide 50 million won each for emergency recovery and preemptive measures. Through this first phase, we will urgently provide a total of 2.6 billion won by the 16th.
In addition to this, the Special Transfer Tax from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety totaling 2 billion won will be provided as additional support primarily for severely affected areas. After the first phase of support, we will quickly identify the funds needed for emergency recovery by city and county and distribute the remaining 7.4 billion won as quickly as possible to provide substantive help in disaster recovery.
While this disaster relief fund will not be sufficient to alleviate the suffering and inconvenience residents are experiencing from flood damage, I earnestly hope it helps even a little. Going forward, the Province will implement all measures to prevent and minimize damage in preparation for future disasters.
Through this concentrated downpour, I will once again remember that disasters are not equal to all people, and I will keep in mind that if we cannot protect society's vulnerable and neighbors from disasters, the nation has no reason to exist.