DONGDUCHEON, Dec. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – In a heartening display on Wednesday, members of the 2nd Infantry Division, donned in blue aprons, volunteered their time to deliver essential briquettes to families facing hardships in Dongducheon.
A commendable turnout of over 180 soldiers actively participated, distributing 2,500 briquettes among nine deserving families. Officers and enlisted personnel formed a unified line, showcasing dedication as they handed out the briquettes. Amid the task, camaraderie blossomed as soldiers engaged in light-hearted conversations, playfully mimicking weightlifting with the briquettes and sharing jokes.
These briquettes, crafted from anthracite coal predominantly found in Korea, undergo a process involving powdering, mixing with clay, and shaping into punctured blocks or cylinders to optimize combustion through increased oxygen interaction.
While historically symbolizing South Korean winters from the 1960s to the early 1990s, briquettes maintain significance as a vital heating source for 81,721 households in the country as of September 2021. Notably, they are still widely used in North Korea and China, especially in single-family homes or outdoor settings where central heating is less prevalent.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
