Optician Who Saved Life of Elderly Man Collapsed Outside Store Gains Attention

Optician Who Reported an Elderly Man Collapsed Outside the Store to 119 and Even Covered Hospital Expenses

Owner of an Optical Shop in Chung-hyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Praised for Helping a Basic Livelihood Security Elderly Person Collapsed Outside the Store

An optician in Chung-hyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, saved a single elderly person receiving basic livelihood security who had collapsed outside his store, becoming an example to those around him. After recovering his health, the elderly man (left) and Dong-wan Lee, head of Chung-hyeon-dong (right), visited optician Min-young Kim to express their gratitude.

"Sir, your life comes first."

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) announced on the 30th that a citizen in Chung-hyeon-dong recently saved the life of a basic livelihood security elderly person living alone, inspiring those around them.

The protagonist of this heartwarming story is Min-young Kim, who runs an optical shop in Chung-hyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu.

On the morning of the 19th, Kim found an elderly man collapsed outside her store and immediately rushed over to check his consciousness and called 119.

The elderly man, regaining consciousness, said, "I am a basic livelihood security recipient, but I have no money to go to the hospital." Kim then went into the optical shop, gathered money, and handed 200,000 won to the man.

Optician Min-young Kim said, "Sir, your life comes first. You don't have to pay me back; please get treatment first," persuading him to be hospitalized.

Living alone without family, the elderly man was able to complete hospital treatment and was discharged in good health thanks to her help.

Moved by this story, Dong-wan Lee, the head of Chung-hyeon-dong, recently visited the optical shop with the elderly man and brought a cake to express gratitude.

At the gathering, the elderly man expressed his thanks, saying, "Thanks to a kind person, I overcame a life-threatening moment and was reborn," and added, "When I collapsed, no one showed interest, but meeting the savior who ran to save me brings tears to my eyes."

Min-young Kim said, "I only had the thought that I had to save a life, and anyone would have acted the same way."

Lee Seong-heon, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, expressed gratitude, saying, "The optician who saved the elderly person's life through action and sharing in a critical moment reminds us all of the value of neighborly love and respect for life."