Gwangju Fire Headquarters Supports Firefighters Battling Cancer with Used Firefighting Suits

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Gwangju Metropolitan Fire Safety Headquarters announced on the 23rd that this year, in partnership with 119REO Co., Ltd., they will produce and sell various cultural products recycled from discarded firefighting suits, donating 50% of the profits to support firefighters battling cancer who have not received official injury approval.

119REO Co., Ltd. is a social enterprise that manufactures and sells products by recycling discarded firefighting suits and fire hoses, donating 50% of its profits to firefighters who have not received official injury approval.

Earlier, the city’s Fire Safety Headquarters signed a business agreement with 119REO Co., Ltd. on November 12 last year, the first of its kind at the fire headquarters level, agreeing to provide discarded firefighting suits past their durability period free of charge and supplied 250 suits.

One firefighting suit can be disassembled into 36 pieces to create 40 types of products such as bags, card wallets, and bracelets.

Products made from discarded firefighting suits, including bags and accessories, will be showcased to citizens in a special exhibition on the basement first floor of Gwangju Shinsegae Department Store until the 16th of next month.

Various products made from discarded firefighting suits can also be purchased at the souvenir shop on the first floor of the National Asia Culture Center’s Culture Creation Hall.

Kim Young-don, head of the city’s Fire Prevention Division, said, “The firefighting suits that protected firefighters’ lives at fire scenes are now being used to support firefighters battling cancer who have also been on the front lines. We hope people will take an interest in these unique products that carry the value of life.”