"Though Modest, Don't Skip Meals" Fire Siren Complaints Followed by 'Cup Ramen Warmth'

"119 Safety Centers Are Essential Facilities, Not Nuisance Facilities"
"All Citizens of the Republic of Korea Support Them"

An anonymous resident sent cup noodles and a letter of support to a 119 Safety Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, which had received complaints from apartment residents about the loud siren sounds.

A box of cup noodles and a letter placed at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office
Photo by Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 11th, about 20 boxes of cup noodles and a letter left by an anonymous donor were found at the entrance of the basement level 1 of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government building in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon City that morning.

The donor, who identified themselves as a resident of Gwanggyo in Suwon, said, "I saw the news yesterday about complaints being filed against the Iui 119 Safety Center," adding, "My heart aches, and I only feel sorry for the firefighters." They revealed that they are a rare incurable disease patient who has received help from 119 and have witnessed firefighters’ struggles at the Gwanggyosan fire and the Gangwon-do fire sites.

They said, "Please do not be hurt by some extreme actions and noises, and remember that many citizens support you and are always waiting for the firefighters’ help," adding, "The 119 Safety Center is not a nuisance facility but an essential facility needed in our city."

They continued, "Because you have to respond urgently and should not skip meals, I prepared cup noodles that you can easily eat," and said, "It is really very modest," adding, "Not only Gwanggyo residents but all citizens of the Republic of Korea are supporting you."

Earlier, on the 28th of last month, the apartment residents’ representative council near the Iui 119 Safety Center in Suwon reportedly visited the center to demand noise reduction measures. They claimed to be suffering from the siren sounds heard when fire trucks depart from the safety center, which opened on May 25. On the 17th of last month, they also announced plans to "express the unfairness of installing a nuisance facility and hold a collective protest," which sparked controversy.

In response, the fire department stated, "When fire trucks respond to disaster sites, the golden time is most important, so it is standard for fire trucks and ambulances to run with sirens on," rebutting the complaints.

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