"Warm Coffee, Have Some Gimbap" Citizens Rush with Food Trucks to Jeju Air Disaster Site

Volunteer Group Responding to Jeju Air Disaster on 29th
Operating 'Love Meal Truck' for Firefighters and Others

In the wake of the Jeju Air disaster that resulted in 179 deaths, a wave of support continued for firefighters, police officers, and others involved in rescue operations. On the 30th, Edaily reported that the international volunteer organization 'International Rotary District 3710' dispatched a volunteer team to the site of the accident at Muan International Airport the previous day, operating a 'Love Meal Truck' to support firefighters, police officers, military personnel, and bereaved families.

Amid the Jeju Air disaster that resulted in 179 deaths, helping hands continued to support firefighters and police officers engaged in rescue operations. Online community

The volunteer team set up a temporary booth with a blue tent on the dry grassland, providing snacks, drinks, and warm meals to those engaged in rescue efforts. The volunteers stated, "The firefighters, police officers, and forensic officials there must find it difficult to have proper meals," adding, "Our members pooled funds to prepare the meal truck and provide food, and we withdrew this morning."

Netizen A shared a story on social media the previous day about their mother’s participation in the volunteer effort, saying, "She went to the site to volunteer with the hope of helping in any way," and added, "If you go to the place where people in blue clothes are, you can receive warm coffee or food, so please pass this on to any officials involved in the on-site response." Comments on the post included, "Thank you so much despite the cold weather," and "Our country’s people always step up to help themselves in times of crisis. Great people."

Amid the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster that resulted in 179 deaths, local residents lined up to pay their respects with flowers at the joint memorial altar set up at Muan Sports Park near Muan International Airport in Jeonnam on the 30th. Photo by Jang Jin-hyeong

Meanwhile, support efforts continued inside the airport as well. Airport corporation employees and volunteers installed about 100 relief tents on the second floor of Muan International Airport last night, providing necessary supplies and warm meals to the bereaved families. Additionally, volunteers from the Gwangju Jeonnam branch of the Korean Red Cross, who came from various parts of Gwangju and Jeonnam to the accident site, prepared and served porridge, soup, rice, and side dishes. In the parking lot between Muan Airport and the management building, volunteers distributed lunch boxes for families and officials who could not eat at restaurants.

Earlier, upon hearing the news of the disaster, about 1,000 local volunteers including those from the Muan-gun Volunteer Center made and distributed rice cake soup. Volunteers from the Honam Regional Headquarters of the Samyuk Community Service Society carried snacks such as tangerines, bread, and drinks on carts, handing out one bag at a time around the tents where the victims’ families were staying. In the airport waiting area, various organizations and groups including the Korean Red Cross and the Korea Housing Construction Association set up tents, and outside the airport building, temporary shower facilities and psychological counseling support buses were also in operation. At a cafe inside the airport, someone even prepaid so that bereaved families and accident response officials could enjoy warm coffee.

Employees of Korea Electric Power Corporation rushed to the airport with urgent daily necessities such as socks, towels, and hot packs. Volunteers from all over the country continued to come. Since the afternoon of the previous day, donations of food to ease hunger?such as water, soy milk, cup noodles, gimbap, and snacks?as well as cold-weather supplies like blankets and hot packs, have been steadily provided on the second floor of Muan Airport, offering some comfort to the grieving families.