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Emergency relief efforts from the retail industry are continuing in the Geoje region of South Gyeongsang Province, which suffered damage from record heavy rain. Retailers are delivering food, bottled water, and other necessities to displaced residents and recovery workers, leveraging their logistics and supply chain networks during disaster situations.

According to the industry on August 21, GS Retail provided emergency relief goods for displaced residents in Geoje in cooperation with the Korean Red Cross. Around 3,000 items, including beverages, cup noodles, and energy bars, were delivered to a shelter set up at the Dundeok-myeon Office in Geoje.

Considering the urgent evacuation of residents due to sudden torrential downpours, the relief package focused on food items that could be consumed immediately on site. GS Retail plans to further assess damage conditions and on-site needs to review ways to continue necessary support.

GS Retail has participated in relief activities whenever disasters strike by utilizing its nationwide business infrastructure, including convenience store chain GS25, supermarket chain GS The Fresh, GS Shop, and logistics centers. This time as well, the company plans to support the recovery of the affected area based on its nationwide distribution network.

Sangmidang Holdings' Happy Foundation is also partnering with the Korean Red Cross to deliver 1,000 loaves of bread and 1,000 bottles of water to the Geoje area. The relief supplies will be provided through the Dundeok-myeon Office not only to displaced residents but also to on-site personnel deployed for recovery operations.

Sangmidang Holdings has been providing relief goods and donations in cooperation with the Korean Red Cross whenever disasters occur. On August 11, it provided 25,500 bottles of water to five regions—Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Gangwon, and North Gyeongsang—in response to heat waves. In July and August of last year, it also delivered 28,000 relief items, including bread and bottled water, to the Chungcheong, Honam, South Gyeongsang, and Jeolla regions affected by torrential downpours.

Ottogi also delivered around 1,000 relief items, including cup ramen and cup rice, to the Geoje Indoor Gymnasium. These supplies will be used not only to provide meals for displaced residents, but also for on-site meals for personnel participating in recovery operations, such as rescue workers and volunteers.

Ottogi has continuously provided relief supplies centered on ready-to-eat meals to disaster-stricken areas. In March of last year, it delivered around 10,000 items including cup ramen and cup rice to Uiseong and Sancheong, which suffered from large wildfires, and in July of the same year, it provided around 40,000 items to flood-damaged regions including Sancheong, Gapyeong, Gwangju, and Dangjin.

The retail industry's consecutive support of food and bottled water to flood sites is seen as leveraging the characteristics of distribution networks that can swiftly supply food and daily necessities in disaster situations. In particular, by including rescue and recovery personnel alongside displaced residents staying in shelters, their role in helping affected regions return to daily life is expanding.

An official from the retail industry said, "It is important to continue necessary on-site support so that residents affected by torrential downpours can return to their daily lives as soon as possible," adding, "We will monitor the damage situation and review additional support measures."

                                                                                                         Lee Chang-yeon