"Restoration Alone Is Not Enough"... Livelihood Measures for Uiseong Wildfire-Affected Farmers Take Center Stage

Uiseong County Council Highlights Both Income and Institutional Gaps
Proposes Easing Regulations on Power Generation Facilities for the First Time

The Uiseong County Council has directly addressed the realities faced by farming households that have lost their income base due to a large-scale wildfire, calling for a shift in policy toward livelihood recovery.

According to reporting by The Asia Business Daily, during the 285th 2nd regular session, council members pointed out the severity of the damage and the limitations of the existing support system, demanding the establishment of practical countermeasures.

Assemblyman Oh Hoyul emphasized, "Simple restoration support alone cannot bear the long-term income gap."

During a government inquiry, Assemblyman Oh Hoyul stated, "This wildfire destroyed or damaged 521 hectares of crops and numerous pieces of agricultural machinery and facilities," emphasizing, "Simple restoration support alone cannot bear the long-term income gap."

He then specifically questioned the head of the Agricultural Technology Center about whether separate measures for income recovery were being prepared.

He also officially proposed easing the installation standards for small-scale power generation facilities (solar and wind) as an institutional improvement to help farming households establish new sources of income.

He noted, "The current regulations are largely disconnected from the realities of farming households," and asked the Director of Safety and Environment to consider relaxing the residency requirement from five years to three years and expanding the permitted capacity from 100kW to 200kW.

During the plenary session, there were also five-minute free speeches.

Assemblywoman Park Hwaja highlighted issues in the overall operation of public facilities, requesting a comprehensive survey and the establishment of a roadmap for operational improvements.

Assemblywoman Park Sunhee pointed out the institutional gap in support for individuals with borderline intellectual functioning, stressing the urgency of enacting related ordinances.

Chairman Choi Hunsik stated, "The council will stand with all efforts to protect the lives of county residents," adding, "We will actively support the stabilization of livelihoods for affected farming households and the steady recovery of the local economy."

This government inquiry carries weight in that it raises the issue of 'what comes after restoration' in earnest.

If discussions on institutional improvements materialize, it is expected to become a significant turning point for the recovery strategy of Uiseong's agriculture and local economy.