Hyundai Motor Group releases documentary on firefighters' recovery, donates ambulances and rehab robots

Documentary 'Re:boot' released on Firefighters' Day

Treatment and rehabilitation at National Fire Hospital recorded

ST1 ambulances, wearable robots among donated medical equipment

Recovery support vehicles, unmanned fire robots among expanded donations

A firefighter undergoes walking rehabilitation using the X-ble MEX medical wearable robot featured in "Re:boot," a documentary released Tuesday by Hyundai Motor Group. The robot assists patients' gait to help restore physical function. [Hyundai Motor Group video capture]

Hyundai Motor Group has released a documentary chronicling the treatment and road to recovery of injured firefighters.

The group announced Tuesday that it released the documentary "Re:boot" on Monday — Firefighters' Day — to support firefighters' recovery and return to daily life.

Co-produced with the National Fire Agency and the National Fire Hospital, the film features narration by actor Ji Jin-hee. It documents a month in the lives of active-duty and retired firefighters receiving treatment at the National Fire Hospital in Eumseong-gun, North Chungcheong Province, alongside the medical staff caring for them.

The documentary captures patient transport by helicopter, emergency response simulation drills by medical staff, and the treatment and rehabilitation process firefighters undergo. It also follows a retired firefighter hospitalized at the facility and a spouse who stays by their side, as well as an active-duty firefighter preparing to return to duty after an injury and undergoing exercise stress tests. The film highlights the use of medical wearable robots in walking rehabilitation, tracing the journey firefighters take to reclaim their everyday lives.

An ST1-based ambulance donated by Hyundai Motor Group to the National Fire Hospital, as seen in the documentary "Re:boot" released Tuesday. The vehicle's interior space and medical equipment were configured for patient transport and emergency treatment. [Hyundai Motor Group video capture]

The National Fire Hospital, which serves as the backdrop for the documentary, is South Korea's first medical institution dedicated exclusively to firefighters. It opened officially in June and provides care ranging from disease prevention to treatment and rehabilitation, taking into account the occupational hazards firefighters face from repeated exposure to hazardous substances, extreme heat and physical trauma at fire scenes.

In August, Hyundai Motor Group donated two ambulances and three rehabilitation robots to the hospital, along with cardiopulmonary rehabilitation exercise testing equipment, a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber and mental health treatment devices.

The ambulances are based on Hyundai Motor's ST1 electrification business platform, modified for patient transport and emergency care. At 5,975 millimeters in length — 350 millimeters longer than the standard ST1 cargo model — each vehicle features an 855-millimeter emergency treatment space at the head of the patient area, giving medical staff room to secure airways or perform CPR.

A walk-through door connecting the driver and passenger seats directly to the patient compartment allows medical staff to reach patients without stepping outside the vehicle during transport. Equipment rails are detachable, enabling staff to reconfigure the layout depending on a patient's condition.

A recovery support hydrogen fuel cell bus, an unmanned fire robot and an ST1-based ambulance (from left) developed and donated by Hyundai Motor Group to support firefighters' safety and recovery. [Hyundai Motor Group]

The rehabilitation program uses the X-ble MEX, a medical wearable robot developed by the Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics Lab.

The device lets patients walk and rehabilitate while wearing the robot on their lower body. Adjustable stride length and walking speed allow training to be tailored to each patient's physical condition. Unlike some rehabilitation equipment that moves patients through fixed, repetitive motions, the X-ble MEX enables patients to participate actively in their own walking recovery.

Hyundai Motor Group has also expanded support for psychological as well as physical injuries. In addition to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber for burn treatment, the group donated a Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) device and a neurofeedback system used in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and related conditions.

The group's support for firefighters began in earnest in 2023 through a partnership with the National Fire Agency. Since then, it has donated a total of 10 recovery support vehicles to fire departments nationwide.

The National Fire Hospital in Eumseong-gun, North Chungcheong Province, which served as the filming location for "Re:boot," a documentary on firefighters' treatment and rehabilitation released Tuesday by Hyundai Motor Group. [Hyundai Motor Group]

The recovery support vehicle gives firefighters deployed for extended periods at major fires or disaster scenes a place to rest and restore their strength. Based on Hyundai Motor's Universe Mobile Office, the vehicle is equipped with rest facilities and convenience amenities, and its interior layout was shaped with input from frontline firefighters.

In addition, Hyundai Motor Group developed the EV Drill Lance in 2024 — a fire suppression device that pierces an electric vehicle battery pack and injects water directly inside — and donated 250 units to the National Fire Agency. The tool delivers water directly into battery cells that are difficult to cool by spraying water on the exterior alone.

The X-ble MEX medical wearable robot donated by Hyundai Motor Group to the National Fire Hospital. The device assists patients' gait to support rehabilitation training. [Hyundai Motor Group]

In February, the group delivered four unmanned fire robots jointly developed with the National Fire Agency. Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai Rotem and Hyundai Mobis all participated in the development, and the robots were built on Hyundai Rotem's HR-Sherpa electrified multipurpose unmanned vehicle platform.

Each robot is equipped with a water cannon, an onboard spray system and cameras capable of surveying surroundings even in heavy smoke.

Videos from Hyundai Motor Group featuring the recovery support hydrogen fuel cell bus and the unmanned fire robots — both designed to support firefighters' rest and safety at disaster scenes — have together surpassed 70 million views on YouTube.

Hyundai Motor Group has also provided vehicles to support firefighters' fire suppression and rescue training. The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation has separately operated a scholarship program since 2012 for children of fire service civil servants who died in the line of duty or were injured while on duty.

"We are deeply grateful to the firefighters and medical staff who work tirelessly around the clock for public safety," a Hyundai Motor Group official said. "We hope this documentary will again shine a light on their dedication and serve as an opportunity to convey our heartfelt appreciation."

kwater@heraldcorp.com