President Lee posthumously awards Kim the Order of Service Merit

Firefighters weep during the funeral service for the late Senior Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok at Bucheon Gymnasium in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday. Kim was fatally injured while fighting a fire at a factory in Bucheon on Friday and died after being transported to a hospital for treatment. The government posthumously promoted him one rank, from fire lieutenant to senior fire lieutenant, and awarded him the Order of Service Merit in recognition of his sacrifice. Photo by Lim Se-jun
Firefighters weep during the funeral service for the late Senior Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok at Bucheon Gymnasium in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday. Kim was fatally injured while fighting a fire at a factory in Bucheon on Friday and died after being transported to a hospital for treatment. The government posthumously promoted him one rank, from fire lieutenant to senior fire lieutenant, and awarded him the Order of Service Merit in recognition of his sacrifice. Photo by Lim Se-jun

Senior Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty at a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, was laid to rest at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on Monday following a funeral service.

Kim, an 11-year veteran of the fire service, arrived as part of the first response unit at a metal injection and printing factory fire in Naedong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon on Friday. He rushed into the blaze but sustained critical injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kwon O-eul said the ministry would "give the utmost respect to the deceased on his final journey and carefully look after the bereaved family so they can overcome their grief and live with pride."

Colleagues bid farewell to Kim in tears at Bucheon Gymnasium in Gyeonggi Province, where the funeral service was held Monday morning.

Fire Private Park Jun-seong, a colleague of Kim, read a eulogy saying, "It feels as though we could meet again at any moment, exchange greetings and work side by side as we always did. No words of comfort can ease the pain of his family, but we will live on, forever remembering the place he has left empty."

The late Senior Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok. [National Fire Agency]
The late Senior Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok. [National Fire Agency]
The casket procession enters the funeral service for the late Senior Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok at Bucheon Gymnasium in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday. Kim was fatally injured while fighting a factory fire in Bucheon on Friday and died after being transported to a hospital for treatment. The government posthumously promoted him one rank, from fire lieutenant to senior fire lieutenant, and awarded him the Order of Service Merit in recognition of his sacrifice. Photo by Lim Se-jun
The casket procession enters the funeral service for the late Senior Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok at Bucheon Gymnasium in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday. Kim was fatally injured while fighting a factory fire in Bucheon on Friday and died after being transported to a hospital for treatment. The government posthumously promoted him one rank, from fire lieutenant to senior fire lieutenant, and awarded him the Order of Service Merit in recognition of his sacrifice. Photo by Lim Se-jun

Kim's wife entered the funeral hall supported by a fellow firefighter, and his daughter — set to start elementary school next year — was carried in by another firefighter.

Kim joined the fire service in 2014 and earned the Heart Saver certification five times for resuscitating patients in cardiac arrest. In January, he also rescued residents from a multi-unit residential building fire, a contribution that earned him a commendation as an exemplary civil servant.

The private farewell ceremony held before the funeral was closed to the public at the family's request. About 3,000 people attended the funeral service, including Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo and Bucheon Mayor Jo Yong-ik, as well as fellow firefighters.

The fire broke out at the metal injection and printing factory in Naedong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon at around 8:38 a.m. on Friday and was extinguished two hours and 28 minutes later. Kim died in the course of the response, and another firefighter in his 40s deployed to the scene sustained serious injuries.

Four other firefighters were treated at a hospital for heat exhaustion, and two factory workers were treated for smoke inhalation, bringing the total number of injured to eight.

Kim was dispatched to the scene with about 20 minutes left before the end of a 24-hour shift and entered the burning building as part of the first response unit, where he became trapped by the fire.

President Lee Jae Myung visited Kim's memorial altar in Bucheon on Saturday to pay his respects and posthumously awarded him the Order of Service Merit.


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