Firefighter Who Protected Public Safety Until the End, Embarks on Final Journey

Fallen Rescue Team Leader Kim Dong-sik at Coupang Logistics Center Fire
Morning Funeral Ceremony at Gwangju Citizens' Gymnasium

Portrait of the late Fire Chief Kim Dong-sik. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Kim Dong-sik, the late rescue team leader (age 52) of the Gwangju Fire Station 119 Rescue Team, who died in the line of duty while conducting a search for survivors at the Coupang logistics center fire site, bid his final farewell amid mourning from family and colleagues and was laid to rest.

At 9:30 a.m. on the 21st, a funeral ceremony for Captain Kim was held at the Gwangju Citizens' Gymnasium in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, presided over by the Governor of Gyeonggi Province. About 90 people, including Kim’s family and firefighting colleagues, shed tears honoring his lifelong dedication to protecting public safety.

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province and chairman of the funeral committee, said, "Even if it was a faint hope, I wished to see Captain Kim coming out of the site as if nothing had happened, brushing off his clothes and with a sweat-soaked face, but in the end, I cannot believe that we lost Captain Kim." He added, "Everyone will remember him as the one who always guarded the hottest and most dangerous places, who was the first to enter the scene and the last to leave."

He continued, "We will do our best in Gyeonggi Province to supplement inadequate systems and establish fundamental measures to prevent similar disasters from recurring."

Representing his colleagues, Fire Lieutenant Ham Jae-cheol of the Gwangju Fire Station said, "Every second I was terrified that I could not immediately rescue Captain Kim in the terrifying flames and had to leave him alone." He tearfully added, "I am only sorry to the family whom Captain Kim loved and relied on more than anyone else because we could not protect him." He also said, "Captain Kim was someone who corrected his colleagues when they were wrong and always showed a steadfast attitude. I pray that he may rest in peace, laying down his heavy burdens in a better place."

Family members and firefighting colleagues laid flowers before Captain Kim’s portrait, mourning his final journey. As the funeral procession slowly left the ceremony hall, colleagues saluted in unison, sending off their comrade who sacrificed his life for public safety so that he would not be alone. Gyeonggi Province will posthumously promote Captain Kim by one rank and award him the Order of Green Stripes for Distinguished Service. His remains will be interred at the National Daejeon National Cemetery at 3 p.m. that day.

On the morning of the 17th, at around 11:20 a.m., Kim Dong-sik entered the basement level 2 of the Coupang Deokpyeong Logistics Center building in Majang-myeon, Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province, with four colleagues to search for survivors after a fire broke out. He became trapped after helping junior firefighters escape first, as the stored materials collapsed. Fire authorities resumed search operations on the morning of the 19th, two days after the fire, and recovered Captain Kim’s remains at 12:12 p.m. that day on basement level 2.

The Maru Park Funeral Hall in Hanam City, Gyeonggi Province, where Captain Kim’s wake was held, received condolences from political figures and ordinary citizens alike. President Moon Jae-in expressed his condolences, saying, "The entire nation was united in hoping that the rescue team leader, who selflessly conducted rescue operations while prioritizing the safety of other firefighters, would return safely. It is heartbreaking."

Captain Kim joined the fire service in 1994, starting as a firefighter at the Goyang Fire Station in Gyeonggi Province. Over 27 years, he served in key departments such as rescue teams, prevention teams, and fire investigation at the Hanam, Yangpyeong, and Yongin Fire Stations. Since January last year, he had been serving as the 119 Rescue Team Leader at the Gwangju Fire Station. He held various certifications including Emergency Medical Technician Level 2, Land Radio Operator, and Hazardous Materials Technician, and received awards such as the Fire Administration Merit Award from the Fire Chief and the Gyeonggi Governor’s Commendation for Winter Disaster Prevention. He was a veteran firefighter dedicated to life-saving and disaster response. On the 20th, Coupang issued a statement under CEO Kang Han-seung’s name, pledging to establish concrete support measures for the bereaved families and to create the ‘Kim Dong-sik Fire Captain Scholarship Fund’ for the children of fallen firefighters in consultation with the families.

Fire authorities are continuing the final extinguishing operations at the logistics center building. Although the main flames have been controlled, the complex internal structure and abundant stored materials mean that embers remain scattered, so it is expected to take another day or two to fully extinguish the fire. Fire authorities plan to conduct a secondary safety inspection of the entire building and complete the final extinguishing work. Meanwhile, the police are investigating Coupang officials regarding an approximately eight-minute delay in sprinkler activation inside the building at the time of the fire. If it is confirmed that the system was tampered with intentionally, those responsible will be punished.