The 'Navy Shirt Hero' Who Saved Citizens Until His Hands Were Covered in Blisters... He Was a Public Official

Mr. Jeong Young-seok Currently on Sick Leave and Resting
"I Was Also Rescued with Help from Other Citizens"
"Thinking of Those I Could Not Save..."

The story of citizens who saved each other's lives during the flooding accident at the underground passage in Osong-eup, Cheongju City, has been shared, bringing a touching feeling. In particular, the 'Navy Shirt Hero,' who became a topic of conversation for reaching out from the railing to rescue a departing citizen, was confirmed to be a public official from Jeungpyeong County Office.

The man who reached out from the railing during the flooding of the Osong Gungpyeong 2 Underpass and saved the lives of citizens has been identified as Jung Young-seok, a public official at Jeungpyeong County Office.
Photo by YTN

According to Jeungpyeong County Office and KBS on the 18th, the man who reached out from the railing to save citizens during the flooding of the Osong Gungpyeong 2 underground passage was confirmed to be Jeong Young-seok, a public official at Jeungpyeong County Office. Jeong's story was conveyed through an interview with a survivor who barely escaped from the underground passage.

One survivor said in an interview with KBS, "I was struggling, and a man wearing a navy-colored T-shirt grabbed my hand and held me from the railing." The man in the navy shirt was revealed to have rescued three citizens, including this survivor, who were being swept away by the current.

As the interview content became known through online communities, the man who saved the citizens was nicknamed the 'Navy Shirt Hero,' drawing attention to him.

On that day, Jeong stretched out his hands with all his strength to pull up three citizens who were being swept away by the strong current from the car roof and railing. Jeong's hands, shown through the media, were red and wounded. It is reported that Jeong is currently on sick leave and resting.

Jeong expressed gratitude, saying he was also rescued with the help of other citizens. He said, "I was floating while holding onto styrofoam, wood, and planks, and a cargo truck driver pulled me out first," adding, "I wanted to thank him and asked for his contact information, but he refused to give it until the end."

He also expressed sorrow over the news of the sacrifice of bus passengers he could not save in time. Furthermore, he repeatedly emphasized, "Proper measures must be prepared to prevent repeated disasters and sacrifices."

The hero who saved Jeong is presumed to be Yoo Byung-jo, a 14-ton cargo truck driver who previously rescued three citizens. On the 15th, Yoo pulled two men and one woman swept away by the water onto the roof of his cargo truck, saving their lives.

Meanwhile, the Osong Gungpyeong 2 underground passage was flooded in an instant around 8:40 a.m. on the 15th when the nearby Miho River embankment burst, causing river water to flow in. Nine people were rescued at the scene immediately after the accident, but 14 died. Including the city bus involved in the accident, 17 vehicles were submerged.

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