Citizen Suffers Second-Degree Burns During Rescue
Recognized as Grade 9 Person of Merit by Ministry of Health and Welfare
On June 4, Changwon Special City awarded a certificate of honor to Gilyoung Lee (male, 55, resident of Jinhae-gu), who was recognized as a person of merit by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for rescuing a driver trapped in a burning vehicle.
On December 6 of last year, Lee witnessed a vehicle on fire near the entrance to Jinhaedaero, in front of 458 Seojung-dong, Jinhae-gu. After calling 119, he rescued the driver, who was unable to escape due to a disability, through the window. During the rescue, Lee himself suffered second-degree burns on his fingers and was diagnosed with a six-week recovery period.
The vehicle was completely destroyed by fire, and the rescued driver sustained second-degree burns and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. After conducting a fact-finding investigation into the rescue, Changwon City applied to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in March of this year for recognition of Lee as a person of merit, and recently received notification of his designation as a Grade 9 person of merit.
The Person of Merit Recognition System, under the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of Merit, allows the Ministry of Health and Welfare to recognize someone as a person of merit if they are injured while directly and actively risking their life to save another person's life, body, or property.
Those recognized as persons of merit receive a certificate of honor and compensation in accordance with the law, as well as a consolation payment from the city under relevant ordinances.
Jang Geumyong, acting mayor, stated, "I deeply thank Gilyoung Lee for his courageous actions in the face of danger," adding, "We will ensure that his noble spirit of self-sacrifice, which has brought honor to our citizens and set an example for society, is remembered for a long time."
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