What is the 'Relay Challenge' unfolding in Gyeongbuk?… Expansion of wildfire prevention campaigns in 23 cities and counties

Gyeongbuk Province and Andong City Enter Challenge, Next Uljin County

"Dryness Advisory Issued, 155ha Burned Over 10 Days"

Gyeongbuk Province has launched an ingenious 'relay' to prevent forest fires.

On the 8th, Gyeongbuk Province started the 'Forest Fire Prevention Campaign On-site Relay Challenge' at Pungsan Market in Pungsan-eup, Andong City, with about 100 participants including Governor Lee Cheol-woo, the mayor of Andong, forest fire watchers, and volunteer firefighters.

Currently, a dry weather advisory is in effect throughout Gyeongbuk, and forest fires have surged recently, with 17 incidents occurring over 155.88 hectares in the past 10 days.

On the 5th, the President issued a directive for 'all-out efforts in forest fire prevention and situation management,' and on the 6th, the Korea Forest Service raised the national crisis alert for forest fire disasters from 'caution' to 'warning,' indicating that the risk of forest fires is at its peak.

To address this situation, on the 6th, Governor Lee Cheol-woo presided over an emergency video conference with vice mayors and vice county governors to inspect spring forest fire response measures.

From the 8th to the 31st, over four weeks, the governor and the 23 mayors and county heads will conduct intensive forest fire prevention campaigns and on-site challenges in a relay format to raise public awareness about forest fires and emphasize the importance of forests.

As the first step of this challenge, Gyeongbuk Province and Andong City distributed leaflets to Andong citizens visiting Pungsan Market to inform them about forest fire risks. In particular, they conducted a strong campaign to eradicate illegal burning of agricultural waste and to inform about the punishment regulations for forest fire offenders.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo, the mayor of Andong, forest fire officials, and citizens also participated in the relay challenge, sharing commemorative photos of the challenge and spreading the event slogan and action items on social media.

The next relay baton has been designated to Uljin County, which plans to continue the challenge on the 10th.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo of Gyeongbuk said, “We plan to issue administrative orders and impose stronger penalties on illegal burning activities near forests outside designated areas,” adding, “We will strictly punish forest fire perpetrators with zero tolerance and the respective cities and counties will enhance awareness of forest fires through fair and strict enforcement.”