'Hero in a Navy Shirt' Who Rescued 3 People in Torrential Rain Receives Reward and Vacation

Saved 3 Citizens During Osong Underpass Disaster
Jeungpyeong-gun Grants 5 Days Special Leave and Rewards

Jeong Young-seok (45), head of the Sewerage Team at the Waterworks and Sewerage Office, who saved three lives at the scene of the Cheongju Osong underpass disaster, received the 'Proud Public Official Award.'

Jeong Yeong-seok (45), head of the Sewerage Team at the Water and Sewage Business Office, who saved three lives at the scene of the Cheongju Osong underpass disaster, received a civil servant award.
[Photo by Jeungpyeong-gun]

On the 25th, Jeungpyeong County announced that it awarded the 'Proud Public Official Award' to Jeong Young-seok, head of the Sewerage Team at the Waterworks and Sewerage Office, for saving precious lives in an emergency situation. The county also selected Jeong as a 'Good Samaritan of Jeungpyeong,' presenting him with a plaque, a special five-day leave for treatment, and a monetary reward.

According to the 'Jeungpyeong County Reward Ordinance,' public officials who faithfully perform their duties and serve as role models can be rewarded as exemplary public officials.

On the morning of the 15th, around 8 a.m., while heading to work for emergency duty, Team Leader Jeong saved three citizens by grabbing their hands as they clung to the railing at the flooded Osong underpass site.

One survivor expressed gratitude in an interview with KBS, saying, "I was struggling, but a man wearing a navy-colored T-shirt grabbed my hand and held onto the railing with me." Because of the clothing he wore at the time, he was nicknamed the 'Navy Shirt Hero.'

[Photo by KBS]

Team Leader Jeong saved the three citizens who were shouting "Save me" one by one, sustaining injuries such as blisters bursting on his fingers and bleeding from scraped areas during the rescue.

Jeong said, "I was rescued with the help of Mr. Yoo Byung-jo while doing my best to get out of the flooded underpass, and thanks to that, I was able to help three citizens."

Lee Jae-young, mayor of Jeungpyeong County, said, "Team Leader Jeong's good deed, saving others' lives with devoted dedication even when his own life was in danger, is a symbol of a public official who gives hope to all of us."

Meanwhile, Yoo Byung-jo (44), a truck driver who, along with Team Leader Jeong, saved three lives during the Cheongju Osong underpass disaster on the 15th, is also reported to be receiving a new truck. Hyundai Motor Company decided to deliver a 14-ton Xcient truck to Mr. Yoo. The vehicle is said to be worth approximately 180 million KRW.

During the flooding, Mr. Yoo broke the window of his truck, climbed onto the roof, and pulled up two men and one woman nearby, saving their lives. However, after news spread that his livelihood became uncertain due to the truck being submerged, Hyundai Motor Company provided him with a new truck.

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