By Lee Hyo-sik
The majority of residents of Yeonpyeong Island forced to flee their homes following North Korea’s artillery attack on Nov. 23 are gradually returning home as the last will move out of state-provided temporary housing units Friday, ending their 88-day life as refugees.
Nearly 900 Yeonpyeong residents out of those who were evacuated from the island moved into unsold public housing units of the Land & Housing Corp. in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on Dec. 19. As the leasing contract expires today, most residents have decided to return to the island. Still dozens of residents will be unable to join in the much-awaited homecoming because their severely damaged homes remain unrepaired.
Following the North’s shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, most of the 1,756 registered residents were evacuated to Incheon and other inland areas while a few people remained on the island. Some stayed with their relatives and friends, but many of the evacuees had to live at 24-hour saunas or temporary shelters, which they claimed to be shoddy.
Some showed signs of psychological trauma as a result of the North’s attack, while others, particularly the elderly and the young, suffered from respiratory and other illnesses because of the unsanitary communal living environment at the saunas. Children were allowed to attend nearby schools, but many faced difficulties adapting to the new environment.
The communal living situation lasted for 26 days until Dec. 18, a day before they were allowed to move into unsold public housing units in Gimpo. A total of 869 Yeonpyeong residents have been staying at the units, while the rest returned to the island or sought refuge elsewhere.
About 70 out of the 869 residents who want to go back to the island will be unable to do so because their homes still remain severely damaged and uninhabitable. The North’s shelling completely destroyed 29 houses and damaged 80 others.
A 54-year-old resident named Cho said although she is excited about going home, she expressed concerns over the safety of the island. “I will go back to my place on Yeonpyeong Island on Friday. But I am still worried that North Korea may attack the island again. I really hope the government makes sure that doesn’t happen. I just want to live a normal life,” she said.
Another resident in his 70s said even though he wants to go back, he has no place to live on the island since his house was completely destroyed. ``Two days ago, I went to the island to check on temporary housing there. But the unit is too small with no running tap water. I am just worried about how I am going to live there.’’
The central and municipal governments have been providing billions of won in emergency relief funds to finance the restoration of the damaged properties on the island and help residents maintain their livelihoods.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security offered 1 billion won in funds, while extending tax breaks to residents when they purchase homes, cars, boats and other items to replace those destroyed.
Incheon City has also provided 1 million won in subsidies per person, with Ongjin County giving each evacuee 30,000 won a day for meals and accommodation expenses. The county is currently building 39 makeshift houses on the island for residents whose homes were completely ruined.