POSCO Cheongam Foundation Selects Citizen Who Rescued Family from Drowning as 'POSCO Heroes'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The POSCO Chungam Foundation selected Kim Ki-moon (57), a citizen who rescued three family members from a vehicle accident involving a fall and overturn into Bonggok Stream in Hwameok-dong, Gimhae City, despite having a disability, as a POSCO Heroes recipient. The foundation presented him with a plaque and scholarship funds for his children at Gimhae City Hall.

Kim Ki-moon, who was chosen as a POSCO Hero this time, witnessed an SUV rolling down about 3 meters from a narrow road beside Bonggok Stream around 12 p.m. on March 21. The vehicle overturned and submerged in a 1.5-meter-deep stream. He immediately jumped into the stream to carry out rescue efforts.

At that time, water rushed rapidly into the overturned SUV, and the pressure made it impossible to open the doors, making it difficult for the driver and two family members to escape on their own. Despite the muddy water obscuring visibility, Kim opened the driver's door, pulled the driver out of the water first, then opened the rear door to help the driver's wife and son escape from the vehicle, successfully saving the lives of all three family members. Kim sustained bruises on his ankle and shoulder during the rescue.

Kim Ki-moon explained the situation, saying, "When I saw the overturned vehicle in the irrigation canal, my first thought was to save the people; I didn't feel fear or danger. Having experienced a serious accident myself, I think I felt even more compelled to help when someone is in trouble." Kim was diagnosed with a level 4 physical disability after an industrial accident at his workplace in 2014.

The POSCO Heroes Fellowship is a program established in 2019 to support heroes who sacrificed themselves for the nation and social justice or their children to continue their studies stably. It actively discovers public officials and ordinary citizens who serve as social role models, raising social awareness of righteous actions and aiming to build a just society where members help each other even in difficult situations. To date, a total of 30 POSCO Heroes have been selected.