Gwangju Seo-gu Council: "The Claim for Reimbursement of Search Costs for Late Captain Kim Hong-bin Should Be Withdrawn"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] On the 1st, the Gwangju Seo-gu Council unanimously passed the “Resolution Urging the Withdrawal of the Claim for Reimbursement of Rescue and Search Costs for the Late Captain Kim Hong-bin,” proposed by Vice Chairman Kim Soo-young, at the 2nd plenary session of the 305th extraordinary meeting.

The late Captain Kim successfully summited Broad Peak (8,047m), the third highest peak in the Karakoram mountain range in northeastern Pakistan-administered Kashmir, last July along with climbing leader Ryu Jae-kang and others, but suffered an accident near 7,900m altitude during the descent.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs charged the Gwangju Mountain Federation 68 million KRW for the costs incurred during the rescue and search operation at the time of Captain Kim’s accident.

Vice Chairman Kim Soo-young of the Seo-gu Council pointed out, “It is excessive to burden the Gwangju Mountain Federation with the rescue costs of Captain Kim, who was the world’s first disabled person to successfully summit the highest peaks of the seven continents and all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters, proudly waving the Korean flag at the summit and promoting national prestige.”

He then urged the immediate withdrawal of the claim for reimbursement of Captain Kim’s rescue costs and called for the amendment of the “Consular Assistance Act for the Protection of Overseas Nationals” to prevent recurrence.

Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho bless4ya@asiae.co.kr

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