Fallen Firefighter — 7-Year-Old Daughter’s Heartbreaking Letter Shakes South Korea

President Lee Jae-myung visited the funeral hall of the late Fire Sergeant Kim Jin-seok at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 17th to pay his respects. Provided by the Blue House

“To my missing dad,”

October 18th, the funeral hall at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. In front of the portrait of the late Fire Sergeant Kim Jin-seok (45), who died in a Bucheon factory fire on the 16th, sat an appointment notice announcing a one-rank special promotion (to Fire Sergeant), the Order of Service Merit, and a picture colored with the popular character Teenieping. It was said to have been colored by the 7-year-old daughter of the late firefighter.

The previous day, a letter written by the firefighter’s daughter was also placed there. In a letter revealed by Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil on his social media (SNS), drawings of a 119 fire truck and a 112 patrol car were accompanied by the words, “Daddy passed away yesterday, but I miss you so much even now.” The content also included, “I know. That daddy loved me the most. My longing dad, let’s definitely meet again later. By then, I’ll probably be an adult. I love you. Missing dad.” A firefighting official said, “Fire Sergeant Kim usually cherished and adored his daughter very much,” adding, “The letter written by his daughter the day before is currently being kept by the bereaved family elsewhere.”

Lawmaker Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party of Korea uploaded a letter left by the young daughter (6) of the late Fire Sergeant Kim Jin-seok on Facebook. Captured from Facebook

Teenieping drawing placed in front of the portrait of the late Fire Sergeant Kim Jin-seok by his daughter. Song Young-gil’s Facebook

On this day, fellow firefighters in uniform continued to visit the funeral hall of Fire Sergeant Kim. Each time grief-stricken firefighters and acquaintances entered the mortuary, the sound of weeping grew louder inside. Mr. A, who revealed himself as a former colleague of Fire Sergeant Kim, could not hide his regret, saying, “The deceased was diligent and had a strong sense of responsibility, so he earned deep trust from his colleagues,” and “I still cannot believe his death.” Kim’s father-in-law also said, “My granddaughter loved catching grasshoppers with her dad so much that they had promised to go on a gathering activity tomorrow before the accident happened,” adding, “Reading the letter she wrote in front of the portrait brings tears to my eyes.”

The previous day, President Lee Jae-myung also visited the funeral hall to pay his respects and posthumously confer the Order of Service Merit. President Lee wrote in the guestbook, “In the safe daily life you protected, the people will forever remember your sacrifice.”

Fire Sergeant Kim was a veteran firefighter appointed in July 2014. In January of this year, he spared no effort to rescue lives from a fire that occurred in Wonjong-dong, Bucheon-si, receiving a model firefighter commendation, and in August, he quickly and accurately performed emergency treatment to rescue a cardiac arrest patient, winning his second Heart Saver award following 2019. In this Bucheon metal injection printing factory fire as well, Fire Sergeant Kim was just about to finish his shift (9:00 AM), but upon hearing news of the fire reported at 8:38 AM, he unhesitatingly climbed onto the fire truck. Afterwards, he entered the building as part of the initial response team and met his tragic fate.

On the 16th, Fire Sergeant Kim Jin-seok, who was transferred to the hospital in a state of cardiac arrest while carrying out firefighting operations at a Bucheon factory fire site in Gyeonggi Province, passed away at around 12:55 AM on the 17th. The funeral for Fire Sergeant Kim is scheduled to be held as a Gyeonggi Provincial Funeral at the Bucheon Indoor Gymnasium at 10:00 AM on the 19th. Provided by the National Fire Agency

Aside from Fire Sergeant Kim, five other firefighters sustained moderate to minor injuries. Two civilians are also receiving treatment for burns and smoke inhalation. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency has formed a 33-member dedicated investigation team and is conducting an investigation. In the joint forensic investigation conducted the previous day with participation from the police, fire authorities, National Forensic Service, and Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, it was estimated that the fire broke out when a spark ignited organic vapor generated during metal cleaning work using thinner.

Fire Sergeant Kim was scheduled to move into an apartment in Gyeonggi Province in two weeks with his wife, who works as a daycare center assistant teacher, and his daughter. Gyeonggi Province is proceeding with the funeral of Fire Sergeant Kim as a Gyeonggi Provincial Funeral according to the wishes of the bereaved family. The memorial service will be held at 9:30 AM on the 19th at the Bucheon Indoor Gymnasium. Due to the attendance of Gyeonggi Governor Chu Mi-ae, who serves as the funeral committee chairperson, the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit originally scheduled for 10:00 AM on the 19th was delayed to 1:00 PM.

The previous day, Governor Chu visited the funeral hall of Fire Sergeant Kim and apologized for the controversial ‘firefighting financial straw’ remark. This came four days after she stated during the Gyeonggi Provincial Audit by the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on the 13th, “Firefighting seems like the most troublesome financial straw.” She clarified, saying, “It is deeply regrettable that my words were conveyed differently from my intention. I apologize with all my heart. That was not my intention.” She added, “I acknowledge that it was a slip of the tongue while discussing structural financial issues,” emphasizing, “There is absolutely no intention to disparage firefighters.”

Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Chu Mi-ae speaking in front of the funeral hall of the late Fire Sergeant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty due to a Bucheon factory fire in Gyeonggi Province on the 17th. Yonhap News

However, as it became known that Governor Chu said during this process, “Since you wanted an apology, I am apologizing with all my heart,” criticisms such as “Is this really how you come to apologize?” and “You are arrogant” were raised by the opposition party. The People Power Party’s Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter revealed in a statement issued on the 16th that the budget for reinforcing fire trucks amounting to 2.65 billion KRW was cut from the 2nd supplementary budget bill submitted by Gyeonggi Province. They also stated that the fire vehicle procurement plan was reduced from 103 to 78 vehicles, and a 100 million KRW budget for a memorial event for fallen firefighters was entirely eliminated.

As criticisms continued, Governor Chu posted again on social media the previous afternoon, saying, “It was not my intention to take the dedication of firefighters lightly, but I sincerely apologize to those whose hearts were wounded by the remarks.” She continued, “Going beyond mourning, I will engrave deeply in my heart how heavy the responsibility of protecting the life and safety of every single firefighter is.”