Severely Injured at 17 While Trying to Save "Gwangju Schoolgirl"... Designated as Grade 9 Person of Merit for Self-Sacrifice

Stabbed While Helping a Victim, Sustained Serious Injuries
No Medical Expense Support Before Official Recognition

The high school student who suffered serious injuries—requiring four weeks of recovery—while attempting to save a female student during the "Jang Yoonki Incident" has been officially recognized as a person of merit for self-sacrifice.

According to data received by Assemblyman Kwon Chilsung (Hwaseong-si Byeong District, Gyeonggi Province) of the Democratic Party of Korea from the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 7th, the high school student, referred to as Student A, was recognized as a person of merit for self-sacrifice at the review committee meeting held on the 24th of last month.

Chrysanthemums are placed on a pedestrian road in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, where female student Chaewon Lee and a male high school student were stabbed and either killed or injured by a weapon wielded by Yoon Gi Jang. Photo by Yonhap News

On May 5, Student A heard the screams of the late Lee Chaewon near a university pedestrian walkway in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan District, Gwangju. While attempting a rescue, he was seriously injured after being stabbed by a weapon wielded by Jang Yoonki. Student A was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment and has since been discharged, according to reports.

One month after the incident, Gwangsan District worked in coordination with Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency to secure evidence, including investigative materials and statements from medical professionals, proving Student A's rescue attempt, and submitted a request for review to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

A person of merit for self-sacrifice is defined as someone who, regardless of their occupation, sustains injury or loses their life while attempting to rescue another person from danger to life, body, or property. Those officially recognized after a review by the Ministry of Health and Welfare receive honors and support at the national level.

Bearing medical expenses directly... Recognition after 52 days

Gwangsan District Office in Gwangju City filed the application to recognize Student A as a person of merit for self-sacrifice with the Ministry of Health and Welfare on June 2, exercising its own administrative authority. It took 80 days from the date of the incident and 52 days from the application for the outcome to be finalized.

Most forms of support for persons of merit for self-sacrifice, such as medical benefits, are only granted after official recognition, so Student A reportedly had to pay for his own treatment. However, as Student A is also classified as a victim of crime, he received additional support from the Ministry of Justice in the form of crime victim relief funds.

Student A was recognized as a grade 9 person of merit for self-sacrifice based on the extent of his injuries, making him eligible for national honors and support. Persons of merit for self-sacrifice are entitled to compensation payments, medical subsidies, employment support, and discounts for public facilities from the national government and local authorities.

The compensation for persons of merit for self-sacrifice is set with reference to national household expenditure statistics. A grade 9 designation entitles a recipient to 5 percent of the compensation given to those recognized posthumously. In principle, the government pays this benefit; if a local government has already provided some compensation, that amount is deducted. The compensation is paid once, and if not claimed within three years of notification, eligibility expires.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.