Firefighter's Daughter Dies in the Line of Duty, Birth Mother Reappears After 31 Years... First Application of the 'Rescue Public Servant Act,' Survivor Benefits Limited to 15%

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[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] A biological mother who appeared after more than 30 years following a divorce, leaving behind her daughter who was less than one year old, and claimed the daughter’s death-in-the-line-of-duty survivor benefits, has been subject to a significant reduction in the awarded amount.

On the 29th, according to related government departments and the office of Assemblyman Seo Young-kyo, the Ministry of Personnel Management limited the biological mother’s rights to 15% in the 'Restriction Claim on Death-in-the-Line-of-Duty Survivor Benefits Due to Failure to Fulfill Childcare Responsibilities' filed by the bereaved family of the late firefighter Kang Han-eol. Meanwhile, the father’s rights, who raised the child despite difficult circumstances, were increased to 85%. This is the first case applying the 'Public Officials Gu-hara Act' passed by Seo Young-kyo, Chair of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee. This law is an amendment that restricts survivor pensions and benefits when a parent fails to fulfill their childcare obligations and the child dies.

Firefighter Kang passed away in early 2019 at the age of 32. Kang, who worked as an emergency rescue worker, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. He was recognized as having died in the line of duty in October of the same year.

However, the biological mother, who had severed ties with her daughter for over 30 years and showed no intention of raising her, received about 100 million won in survivor compensation and retirement pay after Kang’s death, sparking public outrage. It was also revealed that she had been receiving a monthly survivor pension of 910,000 won since January 2020.

Chairman Seo, who has been leading efforts to promote the 'Gu-hara Act,' introduced the 'Public Officials Gu-hara Act' to prevent such cases involving deceased public officials after learning of this situation. Seo stated that while this case is meaningful as the first application of the 'Public Officials Gu-hara Act,' it is regrettable that it falls short of public expectations. Despite the law’s amendment, the review committee only recognized 85% of the father’s rights, who single-handedly raised the child for over 30 years until the child became an adult.

Seo said, "Recognizing 15% pension payments to a biological mother who left her daughter when she was only one month old and who did not take any responsibility for raising her thereafter contradicts the purpose of the 'Public Officials Gu-hara Act,' which aims to deprive parents who fail to fulfill their childcare responsibilities of their rights."

He added, "The biological mother neither raised the child nor paid child support until the late firefighter Kang’s child became an adult. This decision should be reconsidered."