Public Officials Deliver Daily Necessities by Traditional Wooden Frame to Isolated Gapyeong Village Residents After Heavy Rain

The story of public officials who, after a village was isolated due to heavy rainfall, carried water and food on their backs for four hours each day to deliver supplies to residents has touched many people.

According to Gyeonggi Province on July 25, for four days from July 21 to July 24, ten employees of Yeoninsan Provincial Park, including officials Shin Heeseop and Park Suwan, carried emergency relief supplies using traditional wooden frames for four hours each day, covering a round-trip distance of 8 kilometers, to deliver them to elderly residents of Jungsan-ri Village in Gapyeong-eup, Gapyeong-gun, located upstream of Yongchu Valley.

Jungsan-ri Village became isolated after more than 2 kilometers of road leading into the village were washed away by the torrential rain on July 20, leaving seven elderly residents in their 80s from six households stranded. Due to the heavy rain, electricity, water supply, and phone lines were all cut off.

At the time, a man in his 40s who had visited the nearby Dokjeomgol Village out of concern for his parents realized the village was isolated and requested help from the Gapyeong-gun Volunteer Center on July 21. However, as the entire Gapyeong-gun area was affected by flood damage, it was difficult to receive prompt assistance.

In response, the Gapyeong-gun Volunteer Center requested support from the nearby Yeoninsan Provincial Park in Gapyeong-eup, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province.

Employees of Yeoninsan Provincial Park in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, are carrying daily necessities and other items on traditional Korean backpacks to residents stranded by heavy rain. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

After receiving the request for help, the provincial park employees received bottled water, candles, instant noodles, and medicines provided by Gapyeong-eup and forged a supply route by making their way through pathless terrain to the village located 4 kilometers from the visitor center. The total amount of supplies delivered by them over four days exceeded 120 kilograms.

One employee who carried daily necessities on his back to the village said, "Seeing the elderly residents tearfully expressing their gratitude, I didn't even notice how hard it was."

On July 24, the road to Jungsan-ri Village was temporarily restored, and currently, the Gapyeong-gun Volunteer Center and soldiers are providing residents with the supplies they need.

Lee Jeongsu, Director of the Garden Industry Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "The damage is severe, with roads washed away and mountains collapsing due to the rain in Gapyeong-gun," and added, "I hope the emergency restoration will proceed quickly so that the elderly and other residents of the village can return to their daily lives as soon as possible."