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FEATURE
Kudos to the Nation’s Unsung Heroes Fighters of the Flames
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
December 2021
By Chloe Chan
I
n June of 2021, a heartbreaking tragedy occurred at the Coupang warehouse in Incheon. A senior firefighter, Kim Dong-shik, was trapped by a fierce blaze, and his severely burnt body was later discovered in the basement. At that time, Kim was on duty rescuing people who were trapped in the building. He later failed to escape, after ensuring that everyone had been safely evacuated. This incident is certainly disheartening. Somehow it reminds me of those tear-jerking scenes from the U.S. television series 9-1-1, and the verses from the widely known “Fireman’s Prayer”: “Whenever flames may rage, give me the strength to save some life… if according to your will, I have to lose my life, please bless with your protecting hand, my children and my wife.” Firefighters are burdened with obligations that are far beyond extinguishing fires. It is indeed a serious commitment, and a one-way track that forbids U-turns.
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Due to their stability in nature, public servant (공무원) jobs are normally considered some of the most popular occupations amongst South Koreans. However, compared to the other professions that fall into this job category, firefighters might not receive as much praise, though we all recognize the potential danger of their work. On top of that, the manpower shortage experienced by many fire stations in different regions leads to inevitable long working hours. In certain circumstances, fire stations are required to temporarily dispatch staff to other regions for emergency support. A recent example is the accident where a building collapsed in Gwangju on June 9. A building in the Namgu area suddenly collapsed during demolition, leaving nine people confirmed dead and eight others badly injured. Given the severity of this case, firefighters were mobilized from other fire stations across Jeollanam-do to assist local Gwangju fire stations in the search for trapped
2021-11-26 �� 2:47:15