Who Is This Year’s ‘Choegang Firefighter’? … Gyeongnam Fire Service Skills Competition

A participant of the Ultimate Firefighter Competition running with a fire hose. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Firefighter Skills Competition is now in its second day.

The competition is held to motivate firefighters to continuously practice fire suppression, rescue, and first aid skills, and to promote the advancement of firefighting techniques. This year, it has been held since the 7th at the Gyeongnam Fire Education and Training Center in Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam.

A total of about 500 people participated, including 378 contestants and 64 staff members, representing 14 fire stations across the province: Jinju, Tongyeong, Sacheon, East Gimhae, West Gimhae, Yangsan, Uiryeong, Haman, Goseong, Namhae, Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang, and Hapcheon.

The competition consists of events such as ▲fire suppression tactics ▲speed water spraying ▲life safety ▲general rescue and applied rescue ▲advanced resuscitation and CPR ▲strongest firefighter ▲firefighting drone ▲and fit firefighter selection.

Prizes including certificates, trophies, and prize money are awarded up to third place in each category. The team that wins first place will earn the opportunity to represent Gyeongnam at the 35th National Firefighting Skills Competition to be held in September.

Firefighters hitting the target with a stream of water.

On the second day of the competition, the 8th, speed water spraying and the strongest firefighter events, which are fire tactics categories, were held.

Speed water spraying is an event where firefighters connect a hose to a fire truck and spray water as quickly as possible to hit a target.

Water spraying requires coordination between the nozzle operator, who holds the hose at the front, and the nozzle assistant, who withstands water pressure to help the hose extend correctly. Therefore, both spraying speed and teamwork are evaluated.

A rescuer carrying a 70kg mannequin. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

The strongest firefighter event consists of two stages: after connecting the hose to the fire truck, participants drag the hose, roll it up, carry two 20kg weights, carry a 70kg rescue dummy, climb a building wall using a single rope, set up a ladder, and climb up and down a tower carrying two 20kg weights. The second stage finishes with running up a hill.

Except for the moment when carrying the rescue dummy, all processes must be completed wearing firefighting gear including a breathing apparatus and equipment weighing over 20kg.

The firefighter who completes all stages the fastest and most accurately by adding up the times for each process wins the title of strongest firefighter.

Firefighter A said, "Having competed as a player for about 10 years and now judging the juniors, I feel nostalgic," and advised, "It is important to perform accurately without deductions, but since we work for Gyeongnam Fire Department, I hope no one gets injured during the competition."

Firefighter B, who participated as a contestant, said, "When I reached the hill, I was so out of breath and my legs cramped that I couldn’t move freely," adding, "I need to build more stamina and improve my skills to perform better on site."