"I Will Become a Great Firefighter"... Older Brother Carries on the Legacy of Younger Brother Who Died in the Fire

Memorial Ceremony Held for Late Fire Sergeant Im Seong-cheol on 1st Anniversary
Elder Brother Also Becomes Firefighter to Keep Promise to the Deceased

The first anniversary memorial service for Fire Sergeant Im Seong-cheol, who died in the line of duty while extinguishing a warehouse fire last December, was held at the National Jeju Memorial Cemetery.

On the 1st, firefighter trainees are saluting at the first anniversary memorial service for the late Fire Sergeant Im Seong-cheol, held at the National Jeju Memorial Cemetery. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the 1st, Yonhap News reported that about 150 people, including bereaved family members, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon, and firefighters, attended the memorial service to pay tribute by offering flowers and incense. The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters also presented the family with a portrait of the deceased, created with the heartfelt sentiments of the staff.

Notably, the memorial service was attended by Im Ji-hyeok, the elder brother of the deceased, who recently passed the firefighter exam this year and is currently undergoing training, along with his fellow trainees. Ji-hyeok will follow in his younger brother’s footsteps and begin his career as a firefighter starting this March. Previously, the brothers had promised to "become firefighters together and do meaningful work saving lives." Ji-hyeok said, "I will strive to be a brother I can be proud of," adding, "I will work responsibly as a great firefighter."

Governor Oh said, "Fire Sergeant Im Seong-cheol was a proud firefighter and our colleague who fulfilled his duties without hesitation at disaster scenes," and added, "His noble sacrifice will live forever in the hearts of all of us." The father of Sergeant Im said, "It has already been a year since I parted with my son. Though he left behind separation and longing, I now try to cherish those as precious memories," and continued, "As I promised my son to live a new life, I will live diligently from now on."

On the 1st, after the first anniversary memorial service for the late Fire Sergeant Lim Seong-cheol held at the National Jeju Memorial Cemetery, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon and the bereaved family visited the late's gravesite and cleaned the tombstone. Photo by Yonhap News.

Fire Sergeant Im Seong-cheol began his firefighting career in May 2019 in Changwon, Gyeongnam, with a determination to become a firefighter who saves lives. Since October 2021, he devoted himself to the safety of the residents in his hometown Jeju. However, in the early morning of December 1 last year, he was the first to arrive at a warehouse fire scene in Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo City, Jeju, and safely evacuated an elderly couple in their 80s. While extinguishing the fire, he died in the line of duty at the young age of 29 due to a structural collapse.

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