South Jeolla Province identified roughly 37,000 households during its targeted winter support for vulnerable populations and provided tailored assistance to stabilize living conditions and improve safety.
On the 18th, the province said the winter emergency assistance program ran for four months, from November through February. More than 65% of the households were single elderly households (23,861). Other groups included 3,192 households with persons with disabilities; 2,744 elderly-couple households; 1,979 single middle-aged households; and 1,312 single-parent families.
Services focused on on-the-ground safety checks and heating assistance. Fire-prevention measures — including inspection and replacement of electrical distribution boxes and gas appliances — were carried out in 7,010 households. Heating equipment and supplies (boilers, heating oil, and electric heated mats) were provided to 2,704 households. Small-scale housing repairs were completed for 1,223 households, and emergency living assistance for food, medical and housing costs was issued to 497 households.
On-site safety training was also provided in partnership with the fire department's 119 Life Safety Patrol: 4,856 households received instruction on safe heater use; 5,122 on home fire prevention; and 4,973 on everyday household safety.
The province distributed safety items to bolster winter accident prevention, including 4,885 smoke detectors, 4,732 spray-type fire extinguishers, 6,414 oxygen-generating masks, and 4,895 non-slip mats.
Some households saw tangible improvements. In Haenam County, officials cleared and reorganized a disabled household's home and replaced its boiler, significantly improving their living conditions.
A provincial official credited the welfare task force and the 119 Life Safety Patrol with helping secure safety during the cold snap and said the province will continue to strengthen its community-based welfare safety net through cooperation with municipalities and partner agencies.
