Real-life firefighter hero

The reinforced bars of the 108-story Sky Tower melt because of a fire. The tilted structure will inevitably crash into its twin building, and the only way to stop bigger damage is to bomb the tilted building. Few things go as planned in an extreme situation. Fire marshal Kang Yeong-ki loses the remote control of a bombing device while rescuing people. He sends out his colleagues to exits and closes the shutter. Kang plans to press the detonator and let himself burn. A colleague cries out and Kang says, “I’m not rescuing you. I’m rescuing the people whom you’ll rescue.” This touching line would move many people to tears.

Such a story seems to be from the recent Korean disaster movie "Tower," but a firefighter like Kang did exist in real life. Kim Hyeong-seong, 43, worked at the Ilsan Fire Station in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. While fighting a blaze at the PVC logistics center in the Ilsan district of Goyang, he ordered two younger colleagues to flee to safety and was killed after the facility collapsed. A seasoned professional with 20 years of experience, Kim knew the degree of the danger and saved the lives of younger colleagues. He sacrificed himself because of his ample experience and strong sense of responsibility.

Few jobs present a grave risk to life as much as firefighting. Kim Ji-hoon, the director of “Tower” said, “They (firefighters) go where everybody tries to escape and their average life span is one of the shortest.” The death rate of soldiers is not as high as that of firefighters. In Korea, an average 6.9 firefighters die in fires or rescue sites and 340 are injured every year. The two firefighters Kim saved have suffered second-degree burns. The pain of injury is as harsh as death. The injured suffer physical pain as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. Many firefighters who witnessed terrible scenes on the job suffer auditory hallucinations and nightmares.

Many firefighters have “A Fireman’s Prayer” by A.W. Smokey Linn on their desks. “When I am called to duty, God… Wherever flames may rage… Give me the strength to save some life… (ellipsis) I want to feel my calling and give the best in me to guard my neighbor.” What drives people to sacrifice themselves? If one wants money or fame, firefighting is not the occupation to pursue. Whereas many Americans treat firefighters like heroes, those in Korea are underpaid and often criticized. Nevertheless, they do their jobs regardless of getting recognition. Heartfelt condolences should go out to the late Kim, a true firefighter like the hero in "Tower."

Editorial Writer Chung Sung-hee (shchung@donga.com)