South Gyeongsang's 3 city gas firms donate W100m for flood recovery in Geoje, Tongyeong

South Gyeongsang Province's three city gas companies have donated 100 million won ($74,500) to support flood recovery efforts in Geoje and Tongyeong, which were battered by recent heavy rains.

The province held a special donation ceremony Monday at the governor's office in the provincial government building, attended by Governor Park Wan-su, South Gyeongsang Community Chest of Korea Chairman Jeong Yeong-sik, Kyungnam Energy CEO Shin Chang-dong, Kyungdong City Gas Executive Director Kim In-seok and GSE Executive Director Kim Jae-heon.

The funds were raised to support recovery work in Geoje and Tongyeong, both designated special disaster zones. The two areas have recorded a combined 18,255 cases of damage totaling 85.7 billion won, according to the province. The government first designated all of Geoje and parts of Tongyeong — Sanyang-eup and Bongpyeong-dong — as special disaster zones on Aug. 21, then expanded the designation to cover all of Tongyeong on Friday.

Particularly notable was the participation of Kyungdong City Gas, which serves the Ulsan and Yangsan areas, and GSE, which covers western South Gyeongsang Province — both joining Kyungnam Energy, whose supply zone includes the affected areas, in helping the region overcome the wide-scale disaster. The three companies also donated 180 million won following the Sancheong-Hadong wildfires in April last year.

The donated funds will be transferred through the South Gyeongsang Community Chest of Korea to the National Disaster Relief Association. They will then be used in full — in accordance with Ministry of Interior and Safety disaster safety guidelines and local government damage assessments — to provide daily necessities to affected residents in Geoje and Tongyeong and to support on-site recovery volunteers.

"I am deeply grateful to the three city gas companies for their generosity every time our residents are devastated by disaster," Governor Park said. "We will make sure the donations reach every corner of the recovery sites swiftly and transparently."