Withdrawal Oh Young-hwan "I will return as a firefighter... Feeling guilty towards those who died in the line of duty"

A Sense of Self-Reproach for Failing to Mediate Social Conflicts

Oh Young-hwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who had declared he would not run in the 22nd general election, revealed that he plans to prepare for the exam to become a firefighter again once his term as a 21st National Assembly member ends.

The image shows Representative Oh Young-hwan, who entered politics as the 5th talent recruitment of the Democratic Party of Korea during the 21st general election, during his time as a firefighter. [Image source: Office of Representative Oh Young-hwan]

On the 5th, Oh appeared on YTN's "News Live" and firmly stated that the analysis suggesting his decision not to run was due to factional conflicts within the party or disillusionment with political realities was "not true at all," adding, "It is because of a sense of guilt toward firefighters who died in the line of duty." Oh explained that watching the escalating (social and political) conflicts as the election approached and feeling unable to change them gave him a heavy sense of responsibility, and that his self-reproach for failing to properly mediate social conflicts as a politician also influenced his decision not to run.

When the host asked, "You said you will transform back into a firefighter. Do you have to take the exam again?" Oh replied, "Although I worked for 10 years, there is no other way to be accepted by recognizing my career or experience. I can only re-enter through the same exam process as other candidates, so after my term ends, I plan to return as an exam candidate," adding, "I intend to complete at least one last task during the remaining term and then return as an exam candidate after my term ends."

Oh also expressed, "I am very sorry for not meeting the expectations of the citizens of Uijeongbu who placed their hopes in me or those who wished for me to play a role in firefighting," and said, "Despite many achievements such as changing safety-related legislation and improving systems, which had been the hopes and aspirations of firefighters for 10 to 20 years, I have already laid 12 colleagues?senior and junior?to rest at the National Cemetery for three years. Those people still run to dangerous sites, but I no longer have the heart to bear the burden of thinking, 'I will stay here for a greater justice or role, so you go there.'"

He continued, "Raising the fire suppression allowance does not reduce the dangers at fire scenes," and criticized, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety should respond to issues like manpower and organizational problems, but they are strongly opposed. I hope the government and ruling party take responsible leadership first."

After graduating from high school, Oh worked at a disaster prevention company and fulfilled his military service obligation in the mandatory firefighting unit. In 2010, he was specially recruited as a firefighter at the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters. He then served as a rescue paramedic and mountain rescue team member at the Seoul Fire Headquarters, and until his retirement at the end of 2019, he was an aviation team member of the Metropolitan 119 Special Rescue Team at the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters.

At the time of his retirement, Oh was a Fire Lieutenant (Grade 8 public official). He ran as the Democratic Party’s 5th talent recruit candidate in the Gap district of Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, in the 21st general election and was elected. However, on April 10 last year, he became the first Democratic Party lawmaker to declare he would not run in the 22nd general election, stating, "I want to return to the place where I served the people, where I belong, and where my hope and mission lie?the firefighter beside the people." Oh’s spouse is Kim Ja-in, a legend in women’s rock climbing.

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