"Worked Without Straightening His Back Even Once"... Actor Jo Han-sun's 'Quiet Volunteer Work'

Actor Jo Han-seon carried out flood damage restoration work at an apartment in Unjung-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by Lee Gi-in, Gyeonggi Provincial Council member, Facebook capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Actor Jo Han-sun has become a hot topic after it was revealed that he volunteered at a flood recovery site.

On the 14th, Lee Gi-in, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, announced through his social media (SNS) that Jo Han-sun carried out flood recovery work at an apartment in Unjung-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam City on that day. This site is known to have experienced power and water outages due to the flooding of the machine room caused by the record-breaking heavy rain on the 8th, causing inconvenience to residents.

On that day, Assemblyman Lee reported that they carried out tasks such as "removing mud from the underground parking lot with residents, dredging sediment in the rain, and installing barricades in preparation for rainfall."

He also mentioned that Jo Han-sun participated in the work. Lee said, "It turned out that (Jo Han-sun) was a resident of the apartment," adding, "He worked continuously from start to finish without once straightening his back." He expressed gratitude, saying, "The heart to help as if it were his own matter, not someone else's, and the sincerity to quietly find work without making a fuss?this is what makes a long-loved actor different."

Additionally, Assemblyman Lee posted another photo of his muddy feet and pants after the flood recovery work, saying, "I don't need photos like this; I just hope the rain stops."

This is interpreted as a rebuttal to remarks made by Kim Sung-won, a member of the People Power Party, at a volunteer site earlier. On the 11th, Kim was caught on camera saying at a flood site in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, "Honestly, I hope it rains a bit more so the photos come out well," which drew public criticism. As the controversy grew, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office the next day to issue a "public apology regarding remarks at the flood site," bowing his head and saying, "I am truly sorry to the people. I feel deeply ashamed and devastated. I kneel once again to apologize."

On the morning of the 9th, the slope at the entrance of Hasan Tunnel on the Yongin-Seoul Expressway in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, heading towards Yongin, collapsed due to heavy rain that started the previous day, causing the road to be closed. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, flood recovery efforts continue due to the record-breaking heavy rain across the Gyeonggi Province. According to Gyeonggi Province on the 14th, as of that day, damage to houses and commercial buildings caused by the heavy rain was recorded at 624 cases, and damage to public facilities such as river embankments and roads was 436 cases. Additionally, among 684 disaster victims in the Gyeonggi area, 360 remain displaced, and among 1,758 temporarily evacuated due to power and water outages, 802 have not yet returned home. With forecasts predicting more heavy rain before flood recovery is complete, there are concerns about additional damage.