YouTuber Raises Funds for Victims of Andong Wildfire During Live Broadcast

On March 25, a YouTuber known as A, who runs the channel ‘무대뽀조성근’, conducted a live broadcast from the site of a wildfire in Andong, South Korea, using the internet streaming platform SOOP. During the broadcast, Jeong Geun-soo, the head of the Saemaul Leaders Association in Gilan-myeon, appeared to urgently inform viewers about the dire situation. He stated, “We are in desperate need of supplies, and I feel embarrassed to ask, but please help us. We are lacking in meals and everything else.” Jeong revealed that they require approximately 700 servings of food per meal, and if the situation continues for an extended period, they will be unable to prepare for the needs starting from the 27th. He was visibly emotional as he pleaded for assistance, saying, “I sincerely ask for your help. The residents are suffering, and the village is burning. Please, I truly beg you. It’s difficult, but we need your support. We are doing our best, but it’s not enough.”

Viewers watching the live stream responded by sending virtual gifts, which translated into donations. As of 3 PM on the same day, approximately 2 million KRW had been raised. A confirmed that all donations would go towards providing dinner for the firefighters and public officials at the Gilan-myeon Fire Station.

The video quickly spread across various online communities, prompting reactions from netizens such as, “It breaks my heart to see him so emotional,” “I hope it rains soon,” and “I can’t go to the site, but I will donate whatever I can.”

Meanwhile, the wildfire, which began on March 22 in Uiseong, has spread to Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok due to strong winds. The Korea Forest Service issued a national crisis alert at the highest level, ‘Severe’, on March 25.