Donating to hometown love contributions in areas declared as special disaster areas due to damage from heavy rain allows for additional tax credit benefits. In general cases, a tax credit rate of 16.5% is applied to amounts exceeding 100,000 won, but a rate of 33% is applied when donating to special disaster areas.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety noted on the 23rd that "key local governments affected by the heavy rainfall are initiating fundraising for hometown love donations." Previously, President Lee Jae-myung declared six cities and counties—including Gapyeong in Gyeonggi Province, Seosan and Yesan in South Chungcheong Province, Damyang in South Jeolla Province, and Sancheong and Hapcheon in South Gyeongsang Province—as special disaster areas.

As of 12 PM on the 23rd, the current status of the emergency fundraising for the recovery from the heavy rain damage in Sancheong County. /Courtesy of Gohyangsarang e-eum

Donating to these local governments provides greater tax credit benefits. A tax credit rate of 33%, which is double the existing rate (16.5%), will apply to amounts exceeding 100,000 won. This benefit will be effective for three months from the date of the special disaster declaration.

The hometown love donation system can be participated in through the official platform of the Ministry of Interior and Safety, "Hometown Love e-Um", and private platforms "WeGive", "Activity Book", "Welo", as well as through online channels of NongHyup, corporations, and banks including Shinhan and Hana. Donations can also be made offline at NongHyup Bank and agricultural cooperative branches.

Participants can choose between "general donations" that allow selecting a local government or "designated donations" for specific projects like disaster recovery in local governments. Collected hometown love donations will be utilized for restoring damaged public facilities and creating preventive infrastructure.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety explained that "one can choose a local government to donate to and receive a thank-you gift, or choose to donate the entire amount without receiving a gift."

Meanwhile, as of 6 a.m. on the 23rd, the recent heavy rainfall resulted in a total of 28 casualties, including 19 dead and 9 missing. Damage to public and private facilities, including road flooding, river collapses, and dwelling inundations, reached 8,200 cases.

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