"She's 7..." President Lee Left Speechless, Posthumously Awards Medal to Firefighter Killed in the Line of Duty

Visits Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok's funeral, kneels to offer incense
Meets bereaved family, falls silent for a while... "We will remember your sacrifice forever"
Orders support for his young daughter and family
Choo Mi-ae also apologizes for her remarks

At the funeral of the firefighter who died in the line of duty, leaving behind a 7-year-old daughter, President Lee Jae-myung asked the firefighter’s wife how old their daughter was. After hearing her answer, he looked overcome with emotion and was unable to speak for a long time.

President Lee Jaemyung pays his respects at the funeral altar of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jinseok, who died in the line of duty at the scene of a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 17th. 2026.10.17 Yonhap News

The presidential office said President Lee visited the funeral of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok at the funeral hall of Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital in Bucheon on Oct. 17, and spoke with and offered condolences to the bereaved wife, his face heavy with grief.

Outside the funeral hall, he asked the deceased’s father whether Kim had been his only son. After remaining silent for a while, he offered his condolences. When the bereaved family asked him to ensure that the young daughter would grow up well, President Lee also nodded deeply. He posthumously awarded Kim the Okjo Geunjeong Medal and stressed that the state must care for the young daughter and the bereaved family to the end.

At around 8:38 a.m. on Oct. 16, Lieutenant Kim was dispatched as part of the first unit to arrive at a factory fire in Nae-dong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon, and became trapped inside the building while fighting the blaze. He was rescued in cardiac arrest and taken to a hospital, but ultimately died at 12:55 a.m. on Oct. 17. The fire also left five other firefighters with injuries ranging from minor to serious, bringing the total number of casualties to eight.

President Lee arrived at the funeral hall at 6:14 p.m. that day and wrote in the guestbook: “The people will forever remember your sacrifice in the safe everyday lives you protected.” He then put on white gloves, entered the funeral hall, knelt to offer incense, and stood for a moment of silence. He received the Okjo Geunjeong Medal from an official of the National Fire Agency and personally placed it on the altar before the portrait, paying tribute to the deceased’s dedication.

After paying his respects, President Lee also wished for the speedy recovery of the firefighters who were injured at the same fire and were receiving treatment. He instructed Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung, who accompanied him, to provide all necessary support for their treatment and recovery. He also stressed that the state must strengthen on-site safety so firefighters can carry out their duties in a safe environment and fulfill its responsibility to provide appropriate honors and support in recognition of their sacrifices.

He emphasized that the state must remember the deceased’s sacrifice to the end and give him the honors he deserved, and urged officials to give careful consideration to the future of his family and young child. Kang Yoo-jung, senior spokesperson for Cheong Wa Dae, said President Lee regretted that he could not express more than gratitude to firefighters who dedicate themselves to the country.

That day, President Lee also wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “My heart aches deeply when I think of the deceased and the family he has left behind. I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved family.” He then reposted the words of tribute he had written in the guestbook and prayed for the deceased to rest in peace.

President Lee Jaemyung pays his respects at the funeral hall for the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jinseok at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital in Gyeonggi Province on the 17th. 2026.10.17 Yonhap News Agency

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Kim’s death has fueled controversy over Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae’s remark about the fire service being a so-called “fiscal drain.” During a parliamentary audit on Oct. 13, Choo was explaining local governments’ responsibility for fire service budgets when she said, “Fire services seem like the biggest headache and a fiscal drain,” drawing a backlash from firefighters. Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized on behalf of the party that day and called on Governor Choo to offer a sincere apology of her own.

Governor Choo visited Lieutenant Kim’s funeral that afternoon and said, “It was a mistake that came out while I was talking about structural fiscal problems,” adding, “I had absolutely no intention of disparaging firefighters.” She continued, “If my remarks were conveyed differently from what I intended, I deeply regret that. Since you want an apology, I offer one with all my heart.”

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