[Report] "It Doesn't Feel Like Someone Else's Problem"... Families Rolling Up Their Sleeves Together

"We know each other from coming and going... It tugs at the heart"
Preparing dinner, delivering groceries, and more
Pumasi brings hope amid despair

“I was volunteering without even knowing my house was on fire.”

Volunteers serving Samgyetang, bananas, and seasoned vegetable side dishes on trays. Photo by Eunseo Lee

On the afternoon of the 28th, at the Yeongyang County Community Center in Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, Mr. Hee-Soo Lee (72, from Yowon-ri, Seokbo-myeon), wearing a yellow Red Cross vest, said he didn’t even realize his own house was burning as he was busy taking care of the disaster victims. After seeing the fire near his home extinguished by the rain that fell early on the 27th, he went back out to continue volunteering. The reason Mr. Lee helps the disaster victims while putting himself aside is because of a 'brotherly and parental heart.' He said, “Since I usually engage in farm housewife activities at the township level, I know everyone as I come and go,” adding, “They are like family, so my heart aches and I came to help.”

Wildfires are a tragedy. But we cannot just despair because of tragedy. The ‘pumasi’ (mutual aid) happening in the affected areas has become a wellspring of hope.

At the Yeongyang County Community Center, volunteers were preparing dinner despite the rain. They had gathered through various volunteer organizations such as the Yeongyang County Women’s Association, the Life Improvement Association, and the Korean Red Cross. Ms. Hye-Jung Lee (64), who was carrying groceries, said, “Yesterday, I was carrying things with bare hands and didn’t even realize my fingernails were torn, but my fingertips hurt so I came wearing gloves,” adding, “Seeing the elderly without homes reminded me of my parents, and at first, I cried a lot, both knowingly and unknowingly.”

A tray containing dinner being delivered to disaster victims in Poseon-ri, Seokbo-myeon. Photo by Lee Eun-seo

Most of these volunteers live in different neighborhoods from the disaster victims, but they often meet at Yeongyang County sports events or festivals, so they know each other’s faces. Just because they live in the same Yeongyang area, they feel a brotherly and parental affection. Mr. Tae-Kyung Kim (57) said, “Since we are in the same position, farming and living in the Yeongyang area, we feel a sense of kinship,” and added, “If the fire had gone the other way and we had been affected, those people would have helped us then.”

Those who grew up in Yeongyang County feel a special attachment to the region. Ms. Ah-Reum Jo (58) said, “This is my hometown, and since my grandmother’s large family lived here, I volunteered with the mindset that this is not someone else’s problem,” adding, “On the first day, I came here with my belongings to evacuate, but from the next day, I started volunteering.”

As the rain grew heavier, the volunteers even felt joy as if it were their own matter. Ms. Jung-Ja Kim (70) said with delight, “I can understand the hearts of our ancestors who used to perform rain rituals; I can only imagine how the disaster victims must have felt,” adding, “Even though I’m getting wet, I don’t really feel like I’m getting wet,” and “If we unite our hearts for those who lost their homes, we will have the strength to rebuild those homes.”

Volunteers carrying groceries for dinner at 4 p.m. as the rain intensifies. Photo by Lee Eun-seo

Although all 11 major wildfires nationwide, including those in Gyeongbuk, were extinguished within nine days of their outbreak, volunteers plan to continue being the hands and feet of the disaster victims by visiting village halls and affected sites. Ms. Ok-Hwa Lee (67) said, “Even after all the wildfires are controlled, I plan to continue volunteering by visiting the disaster victims and village community centers.”

Meanwhile, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of the 30th, all 11 wildfires managed by the government have been fully extinguished. With the flames in the Sancheong and Hadong areas of Gyeongnam also put out, the containment rate reached 100%. Currently, mop-up operations are underway across all regions.