SANGJU, December 22 (AJP) - During South Korea’s rapid industrialization, the yeontan — a cylindrical coal briquette — was the lifeblood of the working class, fueling the stoves that saw families through the harsh winters.
While the nation has since transformed into a high-tech powerhouse, these "black diamonds" remain a critical, albeit fading, lifeline for the vulnerable.
Though most of the country transitioned to oil boilers in the 1980s and eventually to widespread gas, the briquette has not disappeared. Its affordability makes it the primary heating source for low-income households living in older, marginalized neighborhoods.
However, the low price of the coal itself belies the difficulty of its delivery. Each briquette weighs roughly 3.5 kilogram, and because many recipients live in steep, narrow alleyways inaccessible by truck, transportation costs can be prohibitive.
This logistical gap has given rise to a unique culture of "Yeontan Volunteering." Central to this effort is the Yeontan Bank, a welfare organization that bridges the gap between donors and those in need. The bank manages monetary donations to purchase the fuel and coordinates legions of volunteers to deliver them by hand.
The work is grueling and messy. Volunteers must prepare for a "battle" with anthracite dust, which stains everything it touches. Dressed in black clothing and shrouded in plastic raincoats, masks, and gloves, these "human chains" pass the heavy briquettes one by one up steep hills — ensuring that for the city’s most marginalized, the winter remains bearable.
reporter
Cho Bo-hee
jobo@ajupress.com
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