Citizens Take the Lead in Supporting Victims of the Gwangmyeong Soha-dong Apartment Fire

'Citizen Countermeasures Committee' Launched
Civil Organizations and Victims Participate
From Government-Led to Citizen-Centered Disaster Response Model Introduced

"Citizens themselves step forward to help those affected by disasters." Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province has launched an initiative to establish a new disaster response model centered on citizen participation.

On July 24, the city held an inauguration ceremony for the 'Citizen Countermeasures Committee' in the main conference room at City Hall. The committee was formed to support residents affected by the apartment fire that occurred in Soha-dong on July 17.

This newly formed Citizen Countermeasures Committee is a public-private cooperative response organization. It aims to move away from the conventional unilateral support system led by administrative agencies such as local governments, and instead realize community recovery based on solidarity and participation from civil society. In the short term, the committee will support affected residents, and in the long term, it seeks to improve systems and strengthen a citizen-centered disaster response framework.

The committee consists of 13 members, including representatives from the Municipal Governance Council, Citizen Participation Community, Volunteer Organizations, the Red Cross, the Residents' Autonomy Association, and representatives of affected residents.

The committee operates through a practical committee that sets and coordinates disaster response directions, as well as three working teams: the Operations Support Team, the Citizen Fundraising Team, and the Volunteer Team.

The Operations Support Team is responsible for activities such as policy proposals, system improvement, conflict management, and coordination to establish a robust system. The Citizen Fundraising Team leads voluntary citizen fundraising campaigns and establishes standards for the receipt and distribution of donations and goods. The Volunteer Team assigns volunteers to areas where support is needed and coordinates their roles to help affected residents recover and stabilize their daily lives.

The committee plans to actively promote and expand the ongoing citizen fundraising campaign, and to use the funds raised to support affected residents with housing and living expenses, as well as medical costs. All fundraising and support details will be transparently disclosed.

More than 2,500 volunteers affiliated with the Gwangmyeong Volunteer Center will systematically carry out tailored activities in five areas: maintaining order and security, recovery efforts, meal provision, clothing and daily necessities distribution, and psychological support, all aimed at helping affected residents recover.

Park Seungwon, Mayor of Gwangmyeong, stated, "This committee goes beyond simple recovery efforts and will become a platform for citizens to serve as the backbone of the local community." He added, "I hope this countermeasures committee will establish itself as a 'citizen-centered governance model' where we overcome disasters together and protect one another."