"Completely Unable to Use Hands" Compassionate Support for Police Fighting Busan Bathhouse Fire

Burn Injured in Secondary Explosion During Firefighting
But Nursing Care Costs Not Covered Due to National Pension Service Criteria

Fellow colleagues are extending warm support to police officers and firefighters who suffered burns in an explosion accident during fire suppression efforts.

On the 1st, a fire explosion accident occurred at a bathhouse in Dong-gu, Busan.
[Photo by Yonhap News broadcast screen]

According to the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency on the 13th, three police officers injured in a secondary explosion while handling a fire at a bathhouse in Dong-gu, Busan on the 1st are hospitalized and receiving treatment at a specialized hospital for burns on their faces, arms, and hands.

Among them, a female police officer who is undergoing surgery and treatment with morphine injections due to her fingers being fused by the flames was reported to have gotten married just a month ago, drawing sympathy.

In response, colleagues have been voluntarily raising funds since the 4th. Recently, the chairpersons of the workplace councils from 16 police stations in Busan posted a message titled "Please help our colleagues fighting the fire" to encourage donations for the treatment costs of the burned police officers.

Individual donations totaling about 10 million won collected by the 11th were first delivered to the Busan Dongbu Police Station, where the injured officers belong.

The group "Now for Our Sick Colleagues" (Iidong), which supports fellow police officers injured on duty, also delivered consolation money of 3 million won each to the three injured officers on the 8th.

The Busan Port Fire Station and Busanjin Fire Station also plan to launch fundraising campaigns to help the firefighters injured in the same accident. The Busan Port Fire Station conducted fundraising from the 5th to the 8th, and the Busanjin Fire Station is currently reviewing its fundraising plans.