LG Awards Heroism Medal to Lee Jeong-ah and Two Others Who Have Cared for Youth for 24 Years

LG Welfare Foundation announced on the 11th that it awarded the ‘LG Hero Award’ to three individuals: Ms. Lee Jeong-ah, who has been closely caring for local youth in need for 24 years, the late Firefighter Seong Gong-il (formerly of Gimje Fire Station), who saved citizens at a fire scene, and Police Lieutenant Jo Yeon-je (Sanam Police Substation).

From the left, Lee Jeong-ah, Firefighter Go Seong-il, and Police Lieutenant Jo Yeon-je

Ms. Lee began teaching underprivileged youth at night schools and study rooms in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, in 1988 when she was a university student, and has quietly continued her good deeds for 24 years.

She founded and operates ‘Mulpureunamu,’ a community-based youth organization, since 2004. In particular, since 2011, she has operated a free meal vehicle for youth who have run away from home due to various reasons such as domestic violence, and since 2016, she has opened a free youth dining hall called ‘Youth Late-Night Restaurant Cheonggaeguri,’ providing warm meals and a place to rest. Over 6,000 youths have used the restaurant to date. She also supports alternative families and independent living spaces for youth, and since last year, has operated the counseling bus ‘Cheonggaeguri Charging Station’ to help youth gain the strength to overcome difficulties on their own.

LG also awarded the LG Hero Award to Firefighter Seong and Police Lieutenant Jo, who saved citizens at fire scenes. Firefighter Seong died in the line of duty in March at a house fire in Gimje, Jeonbuk. The house was occupied by a couple in their 70s; the wife was rescued just in time. Firefighter Seong entered the fire scene alone to save the husband who could not escape, but both lost their lives. It was especially tragic as Firefighter Seong had been appointed only shortly after his assignment in May last year.

Police Lieutenant Jo witnessed a fire scene while walking with his wife in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, in April. The single-family house on fire was home to an elderly mother in her 80s and her son in his 60s. Lieutenant Jo immediately broke a window and rushed into the flames to rescue the elderly mother. Although he could not save the son in his 60s, the elderly mother was reported to be in good health.

The LG Hero Award was established in 2015 to reflect the late Chairman Koo Bon-moo’s intention that “a company repays its social responsibility to heroes who sacrifice themselves for social justice.” Since Koo Kwang-mo, CEO of LG Corporation, took office in 2018, the award scope has expanded to honor ordinary citizens who have quietly served and performed good deeds for others over a long period throughout society. To date, a total of 194 people have received the LG Hero Award.

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