81,721 Households Nationwide Using Briquettes... "Support Measures Needed Due to COVID-19"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Due to the impact of COVID-19, donations and volunteer work have sharply declined, leading to an expected harsh winter for energy-poor households using briquettes nationwide. Consequently, there are calls for support measures.

The Bapsang Community Briquette Bank announced on the 23rd that, according to a 2021 survey, there were 81,721 households using briquettes nationwide.

Among them, economically disadvantaged households accounted for 84.2% (68,816 households), including 35,966 marginalized households (44%), 24,810 recipients of government aid (30.4%), and 8,040 near-poverty households (9.8%).

Since the spread of COVID-19 and social distancing measures began in 2020, donations and volunteer activities have decreased by more than half, causing vulnerable briquette-using groups to endure a harsh winter. Therefore, attention and support from the government, corporations, and individuals are urgently needed.

In particular, most briquette-using households consist of elderly people over 80 years old, living in rented rooms, monthly rental units, rooftop rooms, or unauthorized areas. Due to geriatric illnesses, they have difficulty moving and lack the ability to work, relying on government subsidies or surviving on monthly incomes below 300,000 KRW.

Accordingly, the Bapsang Community Briquette Bank has adopted the slogan "Let's Take Responsibility for Three Days to Make a Warm Korea" and plans to share 2.5 million briquettes of love with briquette-using households nationwide.

Heo Gibok, director of the Bapsang Community Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, said, "Due to the worsening COVID-19 situation and economic downturn, less than 100,000 briquettes have been donated so far, so it is expected that marginalized neighbors will have an even harder time this winter." He added, "We hope to share the joy of participation and giving through donations and volunteer activities."