BNK Financial donates W100m to flood relief in Geoje, Tongyeong

BNK Financial Group announced Thursday it would donate 100 million won ($72,200) through the Korean Red Cross South Gyeongsang Province chapter to help residents of Geoje and Tongyeong recover from heavy rainfall that caused widespread housing flooding and other damage.

The group said it has been providing assistance since the downpours struck, including emergency relief supplies, employee volunteer cleanup crews, mobile meal services and financial support to help affected residents return to their daily lives.

On Aug. 18, the group delivered 200 sets of disaster relief kits and 100 sets of daily necessities — including shampoo and conditioner — to evacuation shelters at Okpo Elementary School and Okpo Community Welfare Center. It also supplied 700 bottles of drinking water to apartment buildings that had lost power and running water.

The following day, about 100 BNK employees traveled to flood-hit areas in Jangpyeong-dong and Gohyeon-dong in Geoje to join cleanup operations, clearing mud and debris from flooded stores and homes and tidying the surrounding areas. A mobile meal vehicle was also deployed to provide food to military personnel, Korea Forest Service workers and affected residents taking part in the recovery effort, with meal support set to continue until on-site cleanup is complete.

"We hope this support provides even a small measure of comfort to residents who suffered so much from the sudden heavy rains," a BNK Financial Group official said. "We will continue to provide the help that is needed, as close to the community as possible, until every affected resident can return to their normal lives."