Father Who Lost Only Son, a Firefighter, 26 Years Ago Donates 500 Million Won He Cherished and Saved All His Life

Money Saved Without Using Survivor's Pension
Established Scholarship Fund Named After Son

In memory of his son, a firefighter who died in the line of duty 26 years ago, a father donated 500 million won that he had saved throughout his life to create a scholarship fund in his son's name.

The National Fire Agency held the 'Fire Hero Kim Ki-beom Scholarship Fund Donation Ceremony' on the morning of the 12th at the Daegu Gangbuk Fire Station.
[Image source=National Fire Agency]

On the 12th, the National Fire Agency held the 'Fire Hero Kim Ki-beom Scholarship Fund Donation Ceremony' at the Daegu Gangbuk Fire Station. The late Firefighter Kim Ki-beom (then 26 years old) responded to a report of three missing middle school girls in the Kumho River in Daegu during Typhoon 'Yenny' that struck the Gyeongbuk region in 1998 and searched the nearby area. However, during the search, the rubber boat carrying Firefighter Kim Ki-beom was overturned by a strong current, and he, along with Firefighter Kim Hyun-cheol and Fire Lieutenant Lee Guk-hee, who were dispatched together, died in the line of duty. Attending the donation ceremony were the chairman and members of the Daehan Jeonmol Gungyeong Yujokhoe Gunwi-gun branch, colleagues who worked with Firefighter Kim Ki-beom, and Fire Captain Lee Gi-woong, son of the late Fire Lieutenant Lee Guk-hee.

Kim Kyung-soo (83), father of Firefighter Kim Ki-beom, expressed his wish to provide scholarships to descendants of national merit recipients in his son's name. After losing his son, he said he could not bring himself to use the survivor's pension he received and saved every penny throughout his life. He donated the 500 million won he had saved to the National Fire Agency. Using this 500 million won, the National Fire Agency established the 'Fire Hero Kim Ki-beom Scholarship Fund.' Every year, scholarships will be awarded to children of firefighters who died in the line of duty and descendants of the Daehan Jeonmol Gungyeong Yujokhoe in Gunwi-gun. In recognition of his noble intention, the Daegu Fire Headquarters appointed Kim Kyung-soo as an honorary firefighter of the Daegu Fire Headquarters.

Kim Jo-il, Deputy Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, said, "We are grateful for the noble intention of the father who courageously supports the children of firefighters who died in the line of duty and experienced the same pain to stand together," adding, "The organization will also strive to ensure that Firefighter Kim Ki-beom's sacrifice is not in vain." Kim Kyung-soo said, "The day my son passed the firefighter exam is still vivid in my memory," and added, "I have lived my whole life longing for him, and I hoped my son would be remembered forever. Now that a scholarship fund in his name has been established, I have nothing more to wish for."

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