Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik Visits Coast Guard Officer's Memorial on September 12
"Instructs Coast Guard Commissioner General to Conduct Thorough Investigation Without Any Doubt"
Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, visited the funeral hall set up for the late Coast Guard Sergeant Lee Jaeseok in Dong-gu, Incheon on the 12th, and read aloud a condolence message from President Lee Jae-myung. Photo by Yonhap News
Lee Jaeseok, a Coast Guard officer who died in the line of duty after removing his life jacket to save an elderly man, was posthumously awarded the Okjo Geunjeong Medal on September 12. Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, personally presented the medal to the bereaved family and promised a thorough investigation into the incident.
On this day, Chief of Staff Kang visited the funeral hall set up for Sergeant Lee Jaeseok (34) in Dong-gu, Incheon, read aloud a condolence message from President Lee Jaemyung, and conferred the Okjo Geunjeong Medal posthumously.
Sergeant Lee died on September 11 while rescuing a Chinese national in his seventies near Kkotseom, Yeongheung-myeon, Ongjin-gun, Incheon. According to the Coast Guard, Sergeant Lee gave his own external buoyancy vest to the elderly man, after which the rising tide led to his death.
In his message of condolence, President Lee stated, "I express my deepest sorrow and condolences at the news of Sergeant Lee Jaeseok's death in the line of duty, who devoted himself to saving a life until his very last moment," and added, "He acted on his sense of duty to protect life, plunging without hesitation into the pitch-black, rising waters of the mudflat."
President Lee continued, "We will never forget his noble spirit and dedication," and further remarked, "I will forever hold in my heart the fact that the safety of our society is firmly protected thanks to the dedication of uniformed heroes like Sergeant Lee Jaeseok."
On the 11th, a funeral hall in Dong District, Incheon, was set up as the wake for the late Coast Guard Sergeant Jae Seok Lee, who took off his life jacket to an elderly man stranded in the mudflat and died. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
President Lee also offered words of comfort, saying, "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, who have lost a proud son and steadfast colleague, and to all fellow police officers on the front lines."
Sergeant Lee's mother appealed to Chief of Staff Kang, saying, "What use is any of this?" and "He could have survived if he had been given a life jacket. Please uncover the truth."
In response, Chief of Staff Kang said, "You may have heard that an investigation team was established today. We will do our utmost to uncover the full truth and provide sufficient support to the bereaved family."
Chief of Staff Kang also emphasized, "We will ensure that even the external advisory panel can verify all aspects, and I have instructed the Commissioner General of the Coast Guard to conduct a thorough investigation, leaving no room for doubt. We will uncover the complete truth."
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