Kim Chang-gyeong, who died helping an accident vehicle on a national road due to a drunk driver... Selected as a meritorious person after 9 years

Mr. Kim Chang-kyung, who died after being hit by a drunk-driving vehicle while rescuing a crashed car on a national highway, was recognized as a public service casualty after 9 years.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 12th that this decision was made at the ‘2023 3rd Public Service Casualty Review Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee)’ held on the 9th.

On August 25, 2014, at around 12:05 a.m., Mr. Kim witnessed a vehicle stopped after crashing into a guardrail on a national highway in Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, and while conducting rescue activities, he was fatally struck in a secondary accident by a drunk-driving vehicle that failed to notice the accident scene.

A person who dies while risking their own life to perform rescue activities is called a public service casualty. The government recognized Mr. Kim as a public service casualty 9 years after the accident occurred.

Rescuing an accident vehicle on the national road, the late Kim Chang-kyung was hit and killed by a drunk driving vehicle [Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare]

When designated as a public service casualty, the bereaved family receives honors and support from the government. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, this year’s compensation for public service casualties was set at 22,882,300 KRW. The bereaved family and relatives who receive the compensation become eligible for medical benefits. The children of the public service casualty receive support for entrance fees, tuition, and educational activity support expenses for elementary, middle, and high school.

If Mr. Kim’s bereaved family wishes to relocate his remains to a national cemetery, they can submit an application to the head of the local city, county, or district office of their residence, and after review by the Minister of Health and Welfare and the National Veterans Affairs Office, the eligibility will be determined.

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