Chairman Choi Hojung: "We Will Spare No Support for Wildfire Damage Recovery"

Close Cooperation with Seoul City: Prompt Support with Disaster Relief Funds and Disaster Prevention Personnel and Equipment
Active Consideration of One-Point Extraordinary Session Next Month for All-Out Response to National Disaster

Choi Hojung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, announced on the 27th that the Seoul Metropolitan Council will spare no effort in providing all possible support for the recovery from the wildfire damage.

Chairperson Choi stated, “The wildfires in the Yeongnam region have grown uncontrollably, causing numerous casualties, which is a very unfortunate situation,” and instructed the council secretariat to “actively establish and implement council-level measures for the swift overcoming of this national disaster.”

The Seoul Metropolitan Council has decided to first ensure the prompt disbursement of Seoul’s disaster relief funds and to establish a close cooperation system with the city so that the city’s disaster prevention personnel and equipment can actively operate on site.

Furthermore, the Seoul Metropolitan Council plans to promptly hold a joint meeting of the chairpersons and standing committee chairpersons to discuss delivering a portion of the council activity funds to relief organizations such as the Korean Red Cross, and to consider a plan for council members and staff to join Seoul city-level volunteers in supporting recovery efforts on site in Gyeongbuk.

Additionally, the council will actively consider holding a one-point extraordinary session early next month to ensure the rapid execution of Seoul city’s external cooperation and relief funds.

On the 26th, Chairperson Choi called Park Seongman, Chairperson of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council, expressing condolences for the severe damage and stating, “We extend our sympathies and will actively support and encourage the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council to overcome difficulties together with the residents.”

On the same day, Chairperson Choi, along with the chairpersons of nine metropolitan and provincial councils from the Association of Chairpersons of City and Provincial Councils of the Republic of Korea, visited the joint memorial altar for the victims of the Sancheong-gun wildfire firefighting team accident, set up at the Changnyeong County Gymnasium in Gyeongnam, to mourn the four victims who died in the large wildfire and console their bereaved families.