Delivering Comfort and Hope to Wildfire Victims and Local Residents
Sharing Samgyetang and Song Performances to Foster Community Recovery
Andong City in North Gyeongsang Province held a cultural performance to comfort residents affected by wildfires and to deliver hope for community recovery.
On July 18, just before Chobok, the "Sharing Fortune Traveling Cultural Performance" took place at Dano Park in Gilan-myeon, creating a healing space where more than 400 wildfire victims and local residents came together.
This event was jointly organized by Andong City, the Korea Studies Advancement Center, and the Andong Branch of the Korean Fine Arts Association, with support from local volunteer groups in Gilan-myeon.
The event was planned to provide warm encouragement and comfort to wildfire victims who lost their homes in the large-scale wildfire in March and have since moved into Seonjin Temporary Housing, as well as to share a message of community recovery.
The program featured a variety of activities, including performances by local singers, a resident singing contest, and the delivery of messages of hope. Before the performances, the Korea Studies Advancement Center thoughtfully prepared and served healthy Samgyetang to all attendees, adding to the warmth of the event despite the hot weather.
Jung Jongseop, President of the Korea Studies Advancement Center, said, "While staying at the shelters, I witnessed firsthand the suffering and loss experienced by the wildfire victims," and added, "Although it is a small gesture, I hope it will help in the recovery of daily life."
Immediately after the wildfire, the Korea Studies Advancement Center provided evacuation facilities for about a month and contributed to the stabilization of the victims' lives by operating shuttle buses, offering laundry support, and running programs such as health exercise classes, singing classes, and storytelling sessions for children.
Kwon Kichang, Mayor of Andong, stated, "This cultural performance is more than just an event; it is a heartfelt expression of Andong City's support for a new beginning," and added, "We will focus all our administrative resources to help the victims quickly secure new homes and return to their normal daily lives."
Since June, Andong City has supported the stable resettlement of wildfire victims by starting the move-in process for 931 units of Seonjin Temporary Housing. The city plans to continue providing various recovery support measures, including cultural performances, psychological recovery programs, and community activities.
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