After days of torrential rains in South Korea's central and southern regions, the hard work of post-flood clean-up has started.
At Dangjin Traditional Market in the country's central province of South Chungcheong, floodwaters surged through this area earlier in the week, destroying inventory and shutting down nearly every stall.
"Even though each of us has personally suffered big losses, we're victims, we're staying positive because we've come together in a spirit of cooperation and mutual support. If I break down in tears, the other vendors will too," said a market vendor named Son Han-dong.
Vendors are salvaging what they can. For many, reopening is not about making a profit, it is about surviving and reviving their livelihoods.
"All of our equipment on the floor had to be thrown out. We're trying to reopen for business, but we still don't have electricity or running water, so we can't do anything right now. They say recovery work will be finished by Thursday, but until then, we can't operate, so the losses are pretty significant," said another vendor Moon Soon-jung.
At a national level, President Lee Jae-myung convened an emergency task force, urging an aggressive response, while local governments, volunteers, and residents themselves have also stepped in to speed up recovery on the ground.
"We quickly teamed up with volunteers, and by afternoon, more than half of the trash outside had been cleared. But inside homes and shops, the garbage just keeps coming, no matter how much we throw out, there's always more," said Jung Je-eui, head of Dangjin Traditional Market Merchants' Association.
Days of torrential rains in South Korea left five people dead, five missing and more than 7,000 evacuated in floods and landslides, the interior ministry said Saturday, according to media report.
Additional casualties were reported in Sancheong county, South Gyeongsang province, where one person was found dead and three others went missing after landslides swamped houses, according to Yonhap news agency.
S Korean vendors begin post-rain/flood clean-up
The statement of U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the urgency for reforming global governance, according to a poll from China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Friday.
"I don't need international law," said Trump during an with The New York Times this week, days after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the forcible seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. This statement perfectly captures Washington's unilateral and hegemonic trajectory. The New York Times observed that Trump's assessment of his own freedom to use any instrument of military, economic or political power to cement American supremacy was the most blunt acknowledgment yet of his world-view.
In a global public opinion poll conducted by CGTN, 93.5 percent of respondents expressed belief that the U.S., by pursuing unilateralism, has placed itself in opposition to the international community. Also, 91.7 percent think that reforming the global governance system is an urgent priority.
On Wednesday the U.S. announced its withdrawal from 66 international organizations, setting a new record for its retreat from multilateral commitments. These organizations span climate, energy, and global governance, among other fields. Trump argues that their operations run counter to U.S. national interests, sovereignty, and economic prosperity.
In response, 84.1 percent of respondents were not surprised by the U.S. move. Meanwhile, 88.9 percent viewed it as another radical step under the "America First" doctrine. In addition, 93 percent believed the U.S. approach of using international systems when beneficial and abandoning them when not severely undermines the existing international order and global fairness and justice. Also, 88.3 percent noted that the U.S. withdrawals once again expose it as an irresponsible major power, dealing a significant blow to its international reputation. Furthermore, 88.5 percent believe the U.S. withdrawals reflect its negative attitude toward global governance.
The recent episode of unilateral and bullying actions by the U.S. government has sparked widespread alarm and discontent within the international community. Washington's adherence to the law of the jungle where "might is right" is severely undermining the global governance system. In the poll, 89.9 percent of respondents agreed that multilateralism, based on coordination and cooperation, remains key to addressing current global governance challenges. Meanwhile, 94.4 percent believe it is crucial to advance the reform of the global governance system, uphold international rule of law, and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral mechanisms. Moreover, 90 percent think major powers should shoulder greater responsibility and play a more constructive role in promoting global governance reform.
The poll was conducted across CGTN platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian languages, attracting 24,000 responses within 24 hours.
Trump says 'I don't need international law,' highlighting urgency for reforming global governance: CGTN poll
