Gapyeong County Faces Manpower Shortage in Flood Recovery...Urgent Need for External Volunteers

All-out Response from Military, Police, Firefighters, and Public Officials
Shortage of Civilian Volunteers
Gapyeong with 34.2 Billion Won in Damages Requests Special Disaster Zone Designation

Gapyeong County in Gyeonggi Province, which recently suffered massive flood damage due to record-breaking heavy rain, is making every effort to carry out restoration work. However, there is a severe shortage of volunteer manpower, making external assistance desperately needed.

Volunteers are carrying out restoration work in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, which suffered massive flood damage due to record-breaking heavy rain on the 22nd. Photo by Gapyeong County

According to Gapyeong County on the 22nd, as of the 21st, the recent torrential downpours have resulted in 3 deaths, 4 missing persons, and 66 displaced residents. The number of reported damage cases, including house collapses, road washouts, and landslides, has been provisionally tallied at 52, and the total estimated damage amounts to approximately 34.2 billion won (31.2 billion won for public facilities and 3 billion won for private facilities).

Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 21st, Gapyeong County officially requested that Gyeonggi Province declare the area a special disaster zone.

If designated as a special disaster zone, national funding support for restoration will be expanded, enabling faster recovery efforts and more comprehensive assistance for residents.

Currently, Gapyeong County is conducting emergency restoration work together with county office officials, military units, police, fire departments, and other related agencies. Civilian volunteers are also being deployed on site to assist with support for displaced residents and cleanup operations.

However, the average daily number of participating volunteers remains at only 130 to 170, which is far from sufficient given the overall scale of the damage. In some affected areas, restoration is being delayed due to the inability to secure enough workers.

Volunteers are carrying out restoration work in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, which suffered massive flood damage due to record-breaking heavy rain on the 22nd. Photo by Gapyeong County

An official from Gapyeong County stated, "There is an absolute shortage of manpower needed for flood recovery at this time," and appealed, "Active participation from external volunteer organizations and individuals is more necessary than ever."

The official added, "We ask for your warm support so that the displaced residents of Gapyeong can return to their daily lives as soon as possible."

Gapyeong County is strengthening its online information and registration system to expand volunteer participation and is also requesting nationwide support through cooperation with private organizations.