Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam, Visits Flood Sites in Geoje and Tongyeong: "We Will Support Disaster Victims Until the End"

"We will do everything we can until the very end to ensure that the daily lives of disaster victims affected by the torrential rains are restored."

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, pledged this while visiting disaster relief shelters in Geoje, which suffered extensive damage from the severe rainstorm, personally checking on the progress of recovery and any inconveniences faced by the residents.

On August 18, Governor Park visited the disaster relief shelters set up at Okpo Elementary School and Okpo Comprehensive Social Welfare Center in Geoje.

There are 92 residents from 40 households staying at Okpo Elementary School and 72 residents from 35 households at Okpo Comprehensive Social Welfare Center.

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province is visiting the disaster evacuee shelter set up at Okpo Elementary School in Geoje to check on the accommodation, medical care, and daily support conditions inside the shelter.
Photo by Gyeongnam Province

Governor Park checked the conditions of lodging, meals, medical care, and daily living support at the shelters, meeting with each of the disaster victims individually.

He comforted the residents, saying, "Even if the damage does not look severe on the surface, a safety inspection must be conducted first," and added, "Once safety is confirmed, we will determine if you can return home, so you can safely go back to your residences."

He also instructed that essential items, such as prescription medicine, be retrieved with the assistance of safety personnel, and directed the city of Geoje to provide support measures—such as bathhouse coupons—to reduce the inconvenience of shelter living.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (center), listens to the stories of disaster victims at the evacuation shelter established at Geoje Okpo General Social Welfare Center while inspecting the shelter's accommodation, medical services, and daily support conditions. [Photo by Gyeongnam Province]

In particular, he emphasized, "Since safety inspections and recovery may take time and the period in shelters could be prolonged, provide support so that, if residents wish, they can stay in alternative accommodation such as motels. Please pay close attention to lodging, meals, daily necessities, and medical support so there is no inconvenience during their time in shelters."

After witnessing some disaster victims subsisting on cup noodles at the shelters the day before, he ordered the provision of meal trucks and lunch boxes, and additionally coordinated with the Korean Red Cross to ensure meal support includes soup, further enhancing meal services.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Province (center), is visiting Jangpyeong Elementary School in Geoje to discuss the extent of damage, recovery status, and school management measures.
Photo by Gyeongsangnam-do

Governor Park then visited Jangpyeong Elementary School in Geoje—where the main building, kindergarten, playground, and cafeteria were flooded—together with Superintendent Kwon Soonki and Major General Kim Jeongdo, head of the 39th Infantry Division, to review the extent of the damage, progress of recovery, and academic operation measures.

At this site, when Major General Kim expressed the military's willingness to provide equipment with water-pumping capabilities, Park thanked him and promptly ordered the deployment of fire trucks, taking the on-site conditions into account.

He also stressed that all support necessary for the recovery teams’ meals and other essentials at the site must be thoroughly managed so they experience no inconvenience.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (front right), is observing the damage situation caused by heavy rain at the entrance of Yonghwasa Temple in Tongyeong and giving instructions for the restoration work.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Province]

Afterward, Governor Park continued on to inspect the landslide-affected area in Geoje, as well as sites suffering from flooding at the surrounding area of Yonghwasa Temple in Tongyeong, local apartment complex flood sites, and Seho Market, reviewing both the damage and the progress of recovery efforts.

Governor Park stressed, "We will mobilize all available personnel and equipment so that necessary support can be provided as swiftly as possible at the sites, enabling affected residents to return to their daily lives as soon as possible."

He added, "Thoroughly check for any additional risk factors in areas affected by landslides and flooding, and accelerate restoration of essential infrastructure, including electricity and water and sewage systems. Ensure that all support necessary for residents' stable living—such as housing, meal services, medical care, and psychological support—is provided without any setbacks."

Gyeongnam Province plans to continuously assess recovery needs at the disaster sites, deploy necessary personnel and equipment in a timely manner, and work closely with city and county administrations, military, fire departments, and relevant agencies to focus all administrative efforts—from emergency restoration to the stabilization of daily life for disaster victims and the full recovery of their routines.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.