Gyeonggi Fire Department Receives Plaque of Appreciation from Air Force

Air Force Operations Commander Park Ha-sik (left) is presenting a commendation plaque to Fire Captain Go Young-ju, who was the Chief of Yangpyeong Fire Station at the time of the incident. Photo by Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi-do Fire Department received a plaque of appreciation from the Air Force.

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 3rd that the Fire and Disaster Headquarters and Yangpyeong Fire Station were awarded institutional plaques of appreciation for their efforts in safely rescuing the pilot who ejected from an Air Force fighter jet accident that occurred in Yangpyeong last November. In addition, five rescue team members, including Lee Dong-hoon, Rescue Team 3 Leader of Yangpyeong Fire Station, received individual letters of appreciation.

The plaque awarding ceremony held at the Air Force Operations Command in Pyeongtaek was attended by Air Force officials including Park Ha-sik, Commander of the Air Force Operations Command, as well as Chosun-ho, Head of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, and the rescue team members from Yangpyeong Fire Station who responded at the time.

Earlier, at around 8 p.m. on November 20 last year, an Air Force fighter jet crashed into a mountain in Yangpyeong, and the pilot ejected in an emergency. Upon receiving the report, Yangpyeong Fire Station and Rescue Team 3 promptly dispatched and safely rescued the pilot, transporting him to the hospital. Fortunately, the pilot was not seriously injured.

Lee Dong-hoon, Rescue Team 3 Leader of Yangpyeong Fire Station, said, "I just did what was naturally expected, but I am grateful to the Air Force for preparing this honorable occasion," and added, "I will do my best to develop my responsibility and capabilities as a rescue team member in the future."