Reserve policeman rescues disabled person from fire

A reserve police officer is being highly praised after rescuing a handicapped citizen from a fire. According to reports, the fire erupted at the house of Kim Do-Keun, 40, a jobless man, at 4 p.m. on Monday. Lee Sang-Ki, a 23-year-old nonregular policeman at Kumjong Police Station in Pusan, discovered the fire while patrolling the area.

Lee assumed that somebody might still be in the house and ran through the flames without any protective gear. As it was more than 10 minutes after the fire had started, the house was filled with dark smoke.

After a search, Lee found Kim, who was unable to move due to paralysis in his legs, and took him outside, just before the fire engulfed the 15-pyong house.

Lee said that his dream is to become a regular policeman. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze.

Seok Dong-Bin mobidic@donga.com