Citizens Who Saved Neighbor Drowning in the Sea Awarded 'LG Hero Award'

Firefighter Lee Gi-seong Also Awarded for Rescuing Elderly at Fire Scene

Mr. Kim Hasu who saved a man in his 30s who fell into the water.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-ho Kim] LG Welfare Foundation announced on the 29th that it awarded the ‘LG Hero Award’ to Kim Hasu (70), Lee Gwangwon (42), and Song Youngbong (51), who jumped into the sea to save people drowning, and to firefighter Lee Gisung (32), who rescued three elderly people trapped in a fire scene on their way home with his bare hands.

Mr. Kim witnessed a person floating on the dark sea around 10:30 p.m. on the 9th of last month near a convenience store by the Geunpo breakwater in Geoje City, Gyeongnam Province. After stopping a passing car to request a report, he immediately took off his outerwear and jumped into the cold winter sea. The man in his 30s who was drowning could not move his body at all but was barely breathing.

Mr. Kim held the man’s body with one hand and grabbed onto a raft structure with the other, enduring for about 20 minutes until the coast guard arrived. Thanks to Mr. Kim, the rescued man was transported to a nearby hospital. Mr. Kim calmly stated, “I jumped into the water forgetting my age because I thought the young man’s life could be in danger,” adding, “I just did what was natural.”

On the 20th of last month, Mr. Lee, who was working at a restaurant near Namhae Port in Yangyang County, Gangwon Province, witnessed a car falling into the sea from the harbor parking lot. There were four people inside the vehicle, and they could not get out. Mr. Lee immediately jumped into the sea to rescue those trapped in the car. Fortunately, all four occupants were rescued without any health issues.

Mr. Song witnessed a man in his 60s, intoxicated, falling into the sea in front of the Bangojin Joint Fish Market in Dong-gu, Ulsan, while returning home after finishing a designated driver job on January 30th. Although Mr. Song could not swim, he immediately jumped into the sea and held onto the man to prevent him from drifting away. He endured for about 20 minutes until the rescue team arrived and, together with coast guards and citizens, successfully rescued the man safely.

Firefighter Lee, who rescued three elderly people trapped in a fire scene on their way home with his bare hands, also received the LG Hero Award. He saved the lives of three elderly people with his bare hands without any rescue equipment.

An LG official stated, “This is to encourage the courageous actions of citizens who risked danger for neighbors they do not even know,” explaining the reason for the selection.

Meanwhile, the LG Hero Award was established in 2015 reflecting the late Chairman Koo Bon-moo’s will that “the company repays social responsibility to heroes who sacrifice themselves for social justice.” To date, a total of 174 people have received the LG Hero Award.

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