POSCO Cheongam Foundation Selects 'POSCO Heroes'

Family Rescued from Drowning After Vehicle Overturns in River Accident

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] POSCO Cheongam Foundation (Chairman Kim Seon-wook) announced on the 12th that it selected citizen Kim Ki-moon (57), who saved the precious lives of three family members by carrying out rescue activities despite having a disability at the scene of a vehicle fall and overturn accident in Bonggokcheon, Hwameok-dong, Gimhae City, as a POSCO Hero and presented him with a plaque and scholarship funds for his children at Gimhae City Hall.

Mr. Kim, who was selected as a POSCO Hero this time, witnessed an accident on a narrow road next to Bonggokcheon around noon on the 21st of last month, where an SUV vehicle tumbled down about 3 meters and overturned and submerged in a 1.5-meter-deep stream. He jumped into the stream and carried out rescue activities.

At that time, water quickly flooded into the overturned SUV, and the door could not be opened due to water pressure, making it difficult for the driver and two family members to escape on their own. Mr. Kim opened the driver's door in a situation where the stream had turned muddy and visibility was poor, 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. Mr. Kim sustained bruises on his ankle and shoulder during the rescue process.

He explained the situation, saying, "When I saw the overturned vehicle in the irrigation canal, I thought I had to save the people first; I didn't think about fear or danger. Having experienced a serious accident myself, I think I felt even more strongly that I should help when someone is in trouble."

Mayor Heo Seong-gon of Gimhae City said, "I deeply appreciate Mr. Kim's courageous actions in rescuing lives without hesitation and without regard for his own safety in a dangerous situation. We are very honored that a citizen of Gimhae has been selected for the POSCO Cheongam Foundation's 'POSCO Heroes Fellowship.' We will work together with the POSCO Cheongam Foundation to create a society where we are all heroes."

A representative of the POSCO Cheongam Foundation stated, "Although the hero selected this time has a disability, he risked his own safety to take the lead in saving the lives of citizens in danger, becoming a role model for our society, which is why he was selected as a POSCO Hero."

Meanwhile, the POSCO Heroes Fellowship is a program established in 2019 to support the stable continuation of education for heroes who sacrificed themselves for the nation and social justice or their children. It actively discovers public officials or ordinary citizens who serve as social role models, raises social interest in righteous actions, and aims to create a just society where members of our community help each other even in difficult situations. To date, a total of 30 POSCO Heroes have been selected.