By Kwon Mee-yoo
Residents of Yeonpyeong Island who saw their homes destroyed during North Korea’s artillery attack will have to wait sometime before they get compensation.
Incheon City, which governs the island, said officials were working hard to come up with measures to assist the residents, but that there were no regulations on compensation for civilians caught in military attacks.
"This is the first time for North Korea to attack civilians since the Korean War in 1950 and there are no related laws on compensation," a city official said. "We plan to give them financial aid based on measures for flood damage and seek further support from the Ministry of Nation Defense."
The city estimates some 2 billion won in property damage occurred on the border island as about 30 houses were destroyed in the artillery attack. The exact amount of damage is not yet known.
Rep. Hwang Woo-yea of the Grand National Party said it was important for the country to have residents on Yeonpyeong Island and he would request 100 billion won to refurbish the shelters there.
Other border areas have started to repair civil defense facilities as well.
According to Gyeonggi Province, 10 northern Gyeonggi cities and counties have inspected and started overhauling shelters, as well as checking emergency supplies. Paju City has started repairing 13 air raid shelters, 99 underground shelters and 38 emergency water supply systems.
Meanwhile, students from Yeongpyeong Island are being temporarily assigned to schools in Incheon and other cities.
The Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education said they allocated 121 of 143 students to schools in the city and close to their temporary residence ㅡ it is unclear where 22 students are residing.
Seven high school third graders on the island have been allocated to two high schools to continue preparations for college admissions.
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