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Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon revisited the site of the accidental explosion in Nogok-ri, Pocheon, on the 13th, six days after the incident, to assess the recovery situation, console the affected residents, and announced that the province will provide daily life recovery support funds.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon revisited the site of the explosion accident in Nogok-ri, Pocheon, on the 13th, six days after the incident, to check the recovery status and console the affected residents. He also announced that Gyeonggi Province will provide daily life recovery support funds. Photo by Gyeonggi Province
At a residents' meeting held at the village hall, Governor Kim said, “Pocheon City has decided to provide an emergency disaster relief fund of 1 million won, and the province also plans to promptly take separate measures to provide daily life recovery support funds, disaster consolation money for the injured, and emergency disaster relief recovery costs.” He promised, “We are considering support beyond what Pocheon City offers and are also reviewing the scope of beneficiaries.”
Disaster consolation money can be provided by Gyeonggi Province through deliberation and resolution by the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters when a large-scale disaster with significant damage occurs, such as the Hwaseong Arisel fire incident.
The province is currently reviewing plans to provide disaster consolation money to victims injured by the accidental explosion. The daily life recovery support fund is a form of compensation for residents affected by the explosion. Using contingency funds, the province is considering providing support funds exceeding the level of the emergency disaster relief fund paid by Pocheon City.
Governor Kim also promised swift restoration for the nine households in the village that were completely destroyed, emphasizing, “We will proceed without delay and swiftly in the direction desired by the residents.”
He then toured various affected areas, encouraging the efforts of Pocheon City and Gyeonggi Province officials, military, fire, police personnel, and volunteers who are inspecting conditions and conducting recovery work.
During Governor Kim Dong-yeon’s second visit that day, Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun personally came out to guide him. Mayor Baek expressed gratitude in front of the residents, saying, “Governor Kim Dong-yeon actively helped declare the area a special disaster zone, and there has never been such a quick declaration before. We thank you for visiting here again.”
The residents also collectively expressed their deep gratitude, saying, “Thank you very much for helping to declare the disaster area,” and applauded Governor Kim’s second visit. Among the elders, some remarked, “It is nice to see the Democratic Party-affiliated governor and the People Power Party-affiliated mayor working together without conflict.”
Earlier, on the day after the accident, the 7th, Governor Kim visited the site and instructed, “Do not argue over city, provincial, or national funds; support recovery proactively from the residents’ perspective so that they can return to their daily lives quickly.” He also conveyed to the central government the position that since the state caused the accident, the area should be declared a special disaster zone.
On the 8th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety declared Idong-myeon, Pocheon City, a special disaster area, and since the 7th, Gyeonggi Province has been operating the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to activate an emergency response system for damage compensation and daily life recovery.
The province has provided 90 million won for emergency disaster relief recovery costs, including lodging, meals, and relief supplies for evacuees and temporarily displaced persons, and is preparing to provide disaster consolation money to injured victims.
Additionally, Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Pocheon Hospital conducted outpatient and on-site medical treatment for a total of 116 people, and 93 psychological counseling sessions were held through village hall and home visits. The Gyeonggi Volunteer Center provided volunteer personnel, supplies, and a rest bus.
In cooperation with Pocheon City, the province matched “2:1 dedicated public officials” for hospitalized patients to assist recovery, and conducted joint emergency safety inspections of damaged houses with Pocheon City and the 5th Corps, completing inspections of 110 houses (9 uninhabitable, 88 habitable, 13 vacant). Also, in cooperation with the 5th Corps, 1,263 military personnel were deployed to support cleaning of damaged houses.
The province has called for designation as a special opportunity development zone, stating that beyond short-term damage recovery and compensation, government-level support measures are needed for the economic sacrifices and daily anxieties residents have endured.
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