North Gyeongsang Council Chairs' Council: "The Nation Must Take Responsibility for Massive Yeongnam Wildfire Damage"

Adoption of Joint Petition Urging Enactment of Special Law

A massive wildfire that began in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, has spread across the entire Yeongnam region, including Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, causing extensive damage. In response, the North Gyeongsang Province City and County Council Chairs' Council has called for the enactment of a special law.

A joint petition urging the enactment of a special law for the restoration of damage and regional reconstruction caused by the massive wildfire in the Yeongnam area was adopted unanimously.

On May 14, during its 334th monthly meeting held at the Andong City Council, the North Gyeongsang Province City and County Council Chairs' Council unanimously adopted a "joint petition urging the enactment of a special law for the restoration of damage and regional reconstruction caused by the massive wildfire in the Yeongnam area." This petition was proposed by Kim Kyungdo, Chair of the Andong City Council.

Chair Kim emphasized, "Our region, facing a super-aged society and the risk of local extinction, is in a desperate situation where the current system cannot even guarantee survival, let alone recovery. Now is the time for the nation to take responsible action."

The joint petition includes four demands: ▲ expanding both cash and in-kind support for damaged homes; ▲ providing substantial support for restoring the livelihoods of those in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, small business, and small- and medium-sized enterprises; ▲ easing the financial burden on local governments and promoting state-led regional reconstruction; and ▲ ensuring the swift allocation of emergency and supplementary budgets even before the enactment of the special law.

The council stated, "This joint petition is not merely about local interests, but is a call for national responsibility and the establishment of systems to respond to the recurring mega-disasters of the climate crisis era. The National Assembly and the government must listen to the voices of 2.53 million residents of North Gyeongsang Province and take practical action to address the situation."

Chair Kim added, "The North Gyeongsang Province City and County Council Chairs' Council will continue to act with one voice alongside the residents until the special law is enacted. We will do our utmost to ensure that no citizen stands alone in the face of disaster and that local communities are not left behind."