"I Was Alarmed by the Wildfire Spread and Immediately Called Local Governments"

Manager Yoon Jinhyuk of the Hamyang Disaster Relief Logistics Center Recalls the Wildfire
Taking Charge of Everything from Preparing Relief Supplies to On-Site Support for Wildfire Victims
Selected as a Meritorious Employee by Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association

Hope Bridge manager Jinhyuk Yoon is moving relief supplies to be delivered to disaster victims at the Hamyang Disaster Relief Logistics Center. Hope Bridge

On Friday, March 21, a wildfire that broke out in the hills of Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, quickly spread due to strong winds. Jinhyuk Yoon, a manager at the Hope Bridge Management Support Team's Asset Management Center, was resting at his home in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, after work when he saw the urgent situation on the TV news. He immediately called the local government office to confirm whether evacuation shelters had been set up and provided a list of necessary relief supplies.

The next morning, Manager Yoon reported to the Disaster Relief Logistics Center in Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province, and began emergency duty. He first meticulously checked the inventory and inspected the condition of the supplies. He prepared site-specific items such as shelters, floor mats, simple bedding, underwear, and simple clothing, tailored to the requests from local governments in wildfire-affected areas such as Sancheong County and Hadong County. He then requested vehicle dispatch from a transport company, loaded the supplies onto trucks using a forklift, filled out shipping documents, and promptly informed each local government of the expected arrival time, handling the entire process efficiently.

At the Hamyang Disaster Relief Logistics Center, Hope Bridge manager JinHyuk Yoon is checking the quantity of relief supplies to support disaster victims. Hope Bridge

A day in the life of Manager Yoon at the logistics center is far more than simple warehouse management. On a regular basis, he collaborates with the Corporate Fundraising Team and the Relief Operations Team to assemble relief kits for disaster victims, and coordinates the intake and distribution schedules for supplies in preparation for seasonal disasters such as heat waves or cold snaps. Even on days when there are no shipments, he thoroughly inspects the packaging, expiration dates, and potential spoilage of supplies, and is responsible for overall facility maintenance, including weeding inside the warehouse, checking for leaks, preventing pipes from freezing, and snow removal.

Manager Yoon says, "Relief work is not just about stacking goods. Everything must be thoroughly prepared so that supplies can be used at any time." The response to this wildfire was more challenging than ever. In particular, for items like simple clothing or underwear that require size adjustments, he had to prepare them considering the ratio of large, medium, and small sizes, which consumed significant time and energy. Furthermore, since wildfires broke out in several regions simultaneously, requests from local governments poured in all at once. In this urgent situation, he requested support from headquarters, and Jang Youngkyu, a manager from the Paju Center who was heading south to operate the laundry relief vehicle, changed course to Hamyang to join the response. Despite the late-night loading of supplies and support work, he said, "I was able to endure because it was a position where someone absolutely needed to be."

One of the most memorable moments was an urgent request from Cheongsong County. After shipping the supplies, the delivery driver contacted him to say, "Both directions of the expressway heading to Cheongsong are blocked by wildfires, making it impossible to access." After much deliberation, Manager Yoon decided to recall the shipment. "Delivering supplies to the shelter is my duty, but the driver's life was at risk. Supplies can always be sent again, but a person's life cannot be replaced."

In March, during the wildfire outbreak, Hope Bridge manager Yoon Jinhyuk is loading emergency relief kits onto a truck to support wildfire victims. Hope Bridge

Since joining the organization in 2018, Manager Yoon has been dedicated solely to disaster relief logistics. He now single-handedly manages the Hamyang Center, which covers the entire southern region, serving as a true multitasker. He emphasizes, "No matter how good the plan, if the supplies needed in the field don't arrive on time, it's meaningless," and adds, "Hope Bridge's relief efforts begin with logistics."

Recently, Manager Yoon was selected as a 'Meritorious Employee' through a company-wide staff vote. He said, "I was just doing my job, so I am grateful to those who voted for me," and gave credit to others, saying, "It should have been Jang Youngkyu from the Paju Center, who came to support in Hamyang, and Park Hyunmin, the Paju Center director, who responded alone to supply requests late into the night." Manager Yoon added, "Since I joined, I have always vowed to make sure that no one is left without relief," and continued, "This time, I was reminded once again that what we do can be a source of hope for someone's life. I hope that, standing by those who need Hope Bridge, we can be a strong bridge leading everyone toward hope."