Briquette Bank Delivers Heatwave Prevention 'Cooling Kits' to Seoul's Jeonwon Village

For the residents of Jeonwon Village in Seoul's Seocho District, who struggle to escape the heat due to the burden of electricity bills, the Briquette Bank—an organization helping neighbors in need—delivered kits containing 14 types of daily necessities and cooling supplies to beat the sweltering heat. This village, characterized by its vinyl house structure, traps heat, causing indoor temperatures to soar up to 40 degrees Celsius. Due to economic difficulties, residents are unable to use cooling appliances, so the volunteer group visited each household to check on their well-being.

Last July, the Briquette Bank launched the 'To a Lower Place, Korea Community,' a group involving figures from all walks of society, with the goal of visiting sites in need and spreading the spirit of sharing and service. Community members, including former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Jeong-ae and former Korea Meteorological Administration Administrator Nam Jae-cheol, accompanied the volunteers on this day.

Kwon Ok-nyeo, general affairs manager of the Jeonwon Village Residents' Council, stated, "When the indoor temperature rises to 37 to 40 degrees, it becomes hard to breathe." She added, "There have been many times when I wondered how the elderly would survive without the Briquette Bank." She remarked that if she herself is short of breath due to the heat, one can only imagine how much harder it is for the seniors. Kwon explained that just visiting to greet them and holding their hands conveys a warm heart.

Jung Jae-hoon, former president of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, noted, "We talk a lot about love, sharing, and caring." The term 'Sa-na-bae-sil' (Love, Sharing, Caring, and Practice) that he emphasized adds 'action' to these concepts. He expressed hope that this practice, rather than words, would continue in everyone's heart.

The Briquette Bank stated, "In a reality where the climate crisis has become a daily occurrence, protecting the summer and winter of the vulnerable class is a task of energy welfare." The organization announced that it will continue to provide support for heatwaves in the summer and heating in the winter to protect the vulnerable during the climate crisis.