Hope Bridge to distribute around 2.8 billion won in donations to 1,327 residents affected by heavy rains in August and September

[Financial News] Public donations totaling 2,817,000,000 won will be delivered to 1,327 residents affected by the torrential rains in August and September. South Gyeongsang Province has been allocated 97.4% of the total payout.
According to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association on the 9th, the recipients are residents of South Gyeongsang, North Jeolla, South Chungcheong and Gyeonggi provinces who were affected by two periods of heavy rain: August 15–18 and August 28–September 1. The amounts allocated by region are 2,744,000,000 won for South Gyeongsang (1,292 people), 59 million won for North Jeolla (28 people), 10 million won for South Chungcheong (5 people) and 4 million won for Gyeonggi (2 people).
According to figures from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, damage from the heavy rains in mid-August was concentrated in Geoje City and Tongyeong City in South Gyeongsang Province. Nationwide, 1,396 homes were flooded, and 163 landslides occurred. During the rains that continued from late August into early September, damage including flooding of homes and farmland was confirmed in 46 cities, counties and districts nationwide.
Relief donations are funds raised to help residents affected by natural disasters. Companies, entertainers and writers, among others, took part in this fundraising campaign. Fans donated voluntarily, and members of the public also contributed online.
For this distribution, the maximum amounts for each type of damage set out in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's notice, the “Regulations on the Management and Operation of Relief Donations and Goods,” were applied. Relief donations for the families of people who died or went missing are capped at 20 million won per victim. For housing damage, the maximum amounts per household actually living in the home are 10 million won for a home completely destroyed, 5 million won for a partially destroyed home and 2 million won for a flooded home.
Once the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) establishes a disaster recovery plan, Hope Bridge begins the allocation process based on damage records registered in the National Disaster Management System (NDMS). Relief funds are paid after review and approval by the allocation committee.
Founded in 1961, Hope Bridge is a statutory relief organization under the Disaster Relief Act. Its cumulative assistance amounts to 1.7 trillion won in public donations and at least 70 million relief items.
Shin Hoon, secretary-general of Hope Bridge, said, “I thank everyone across the country for coming together to support our neighbors affected by the heavy rains,” adding, “We will ensure these valuable donations reach affected residents accurately and promptly.”
[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter