[EDITORIALS]Hope in the midst of despair

There was hope in the midst of despair. Typhoon Rusa left more than 3 trillion won ($2.5 billion) of destruction and 200 dead and missing persons, but we are sharing the warmest love amid the hardships.

Many of those who were not affected by the floods and typhoon volunteered to help victims. It is impossible to count how many volunteered or provided monetary help.

More than 9,000 students, public servants, servicemen, office workers and social workers volunteered to aid flood victims in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang province. The volunteer center in Gangneung said nearly 3,000 people nationwide offered assistance.

The army has begun a recovery work as large as a military operation. Large business groups such as Samsung and LG and local governments including Seoul's are actively helping the flood-stricken areas. Many flood victims are sharing scarce water and rice with each other. We see compassionate compatriotism in the midst of disaster.

We want to recognize the hard work of those who are sowing the land of despair with seeds of hope. We also want to commemorate those who sacrificed themselves for others.

Army Captain Kim Yeong-gon died after jumping into the waters to save two helpless old men isolated by the rains. Kim Jin-wu, who works for the Daechang-myeon office in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang province, went out to check flood conditions in his district and lost his life. First Lieutenant Kim Il-dong was working to restore damage in Hyeonnae-myeong, Goseong-gun, Gangwon province; he lost both his arms in an accidental landmine explosion.

All these people showed us the nobility of combining a strong sense of responsibility with humanitarian love.

We learned that helping each other gives us the power to overcome natural disasters. Despair may hit us anytime. Whether we will fall on our knees before it or will overcome it depends entirely on whether we can find hope in the midst of despair. Hope sprang up in the hearts of the flood victims stunned by disaster because of the noble sacrifices and invaluable support of others.