The Police Officer in His 20s Newlywed Finally Passed Away... Sergeant Lee Seong-rim, Injured in Traffic Control Accident, Dies After Critical Condition

Busan Haeundae Police Station, One Rank Posthumous Promotion and Funeral Ceremony on the 23rd

Late Police Officer Lee Seong-rim.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Police Corporal Lee Seong-rim (29) ultimately did not regain consciousness. The dream of his four-month newlywed life stopped on the road where he last worked. The baby in his wife's womb is growing up to meet a father he will never see.

A young police officer directing traffic at a busy intersection was hit by a vehicle and underwent surgery (reported in our December 16 online edition), but he did not regain consciousness for a week and passed away at 3:09 p.m. on the 21st.

Corporal Lee Seong-rim, a police officer in his 20s, was a groom who had married four months ago.

On the afternoon of the 14th, around 6:47 p.m., at the intersection at the entrance of Gwa-jeonggyo in Jaesong-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan, Corporal Lee was directing traffic during rush hour on his way home when he was struck head-on by a vehicle turning left from the Haeundae Police Station direction toward Gwangandaegyo Bridge.

Immediately after the accident, a 119 paramedic passing by provided emergency treatment and urgently transported Corporal Lee to the hospital. Although brain surgery was performed, his life came to a halt.

The vehicle that hit Corporal Lee was traveling according to normal traffic signals and was not involved in drunk driving, according to reports.

The Busan Police formed a funeral committee chaired by the Busan Police Chief. On the morning of the 23rd at 9 a.m., a funeral ceremony will be held at the Dongbaek Plaza on the 2nd floor of the Busan Police Agency, with the Busan Police Chief presiding over the funeral (葬), and Corporal Lee will be buried in the police cemetery at the National Daejeon National Cemetery.

The funeral parlor has been set up at the Busan Citizens Funeral Hall. Corporal Lee was posthumously promoted one rank to Sergeant.

Corporal Lee, who died in the line of duty, joined the police in 2016, served in the 1st Mobile Unit, and from August 2018 worked in the Traffic Safety Division of the Haeundae Police Station.

His police colleagues remember him for his bright smile and gentle personality. During the Pyeongchang Olympics, he received a commendation from the Busan Police Chief for his meritorious service in event security.

He excelled in traffic enforcement duties, found a dementia patient and helped return them to their family, and was recognized with various awards and commendations 15 times, including for arresting theft suspects, marking him as an outstanding police officer.

The police will solemnly conduct the funeral and memorial service in compliance with COVID-19 quarantine guidelines. Except for family members or special cases, visits to the funeral parlor and memorial service venue are not allowed.