"You Died So Unfairly"... Sergeant Lee Jaeseok's Funeral, Bereaved Family in Tears

Fact-Finding Committee Begins Investigation into On-Duty Death from the 15th

The funeral ceremony for the late Sergeant Lee Jaeseok, 34, who died while rescuing an elderly man stranded in a mudflat, was held on the morning of September 15 at the Incheon Coast Guard Station in Seo-gu, Incheon.

The ceremony was solemnly conducted as the Central Regional Coast Guard Commissioner, Oh Sangkwon, served as the head of the funeral committee, and it was held with the status of a Central Regional Coast Guard Commissioner’s funeral. Over 1,000 people, including the bereaved family and fellow coast guard officers, attended to pay their final respects.

The ceremony proceeded with a moment of silence for the deceased, a report on his career, the reading of a presidential condolence message, a farewell speech by a colleague, the laying of flowers and incense, a salute, and the procession of the casket. In his farewell speech, Sergeant Kim Daeyoon said, “People call you a hero, but I cannot hide my sorrow when I think of you fighting alone in the dark sea. Please become a star that shines on your family, friends, and colleagues.”

The bereaved family members, crying out repeatedly, “You died so unfairly. Jaeseok, Jaeseok,” wept loudly as they laid flowers for the deceased. Sergeant Lee was posthumously promoted by one rank and was awarded the Order of Service Merit, Okjo Medal, by the Republic of Korea. He will be laid to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery.

On the 15th, the funeral service for the late Marine Police Officer Sergeant Lee Jaeseok was solemnly held at the Incheon Marine Police Station in Seo-gu, Incheon. Photo by Yonhap News

The Coast Guard announced that a fact-finding team to investigate the cause of Sergeant Lee’s death in the line of duty would begin its activities on this day. The team is composed of six external experts, with an external member serving as the leader. The team plans to conduct document reviews and on-site inspections until September 26 to determine the cause of the accident.

The investigation team will thoroughly examine the circumstances under which Sergeant Lee was dispatched to the scene alone, as well as the reasons for the delayed deployment of additional personnel from the station and the late report to the situation room.

At the time, it was revealed that the Yeongheung Police Substation of the Incheon Coast Guard did not follow its internal regulation requiring “two-person dispatch.” According to the “Substation and Branch Office Operation Rules,” an order from the Coast Guard Headquarters, patrol cars must carry at least two people in principle, except in unavoidable circumstances.

However, at around 2:07 a.m. on September 11, Sergeant Lee responded alone to a report from a drone patrol company that a person was sitting in the mudflat. There were six staff members on duty at the station at the time, four of whom were reportedly on break.

Nevertheless, even during break times, two officers are required to respond together to a dispatch. There were two officers on duty, so the fact that Sergeant Lee went out alone has been pointed out as a problem.

Additionally, at around 2:44 a.m., Sergeant Lee reported to Team Leader A that “the water has risen to my ankles, so I think additional personnel will be needed,” but other staff at the Yeongheung Substation were not immediately dispatched. After Sergeant Lee said at 2:56 a.m. that “the water is up to my waist,” radio contact was lost at 3:06 a.m. Three minutes later, when the drone company requested support personnel, only then did the staff head to the scene.

Commissioner Oh stated in his remarks at the funeral, “We will clearly determine the reasons for failing to comply with the two-person dispatch principle, why there was no prompt response after losing contact with the deceased, and whether there was any lack of rescue or personal protective equipment. We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the accident and take measures to prevent recurrence so that the sacrifice of the deceased is not in vain.”

He added, “We will transparently release the results of the investigation to the bereaved family and others on a regular basis. We will also strengthen regulations such as response protocols and duty systems, and enhance rescue capabilities by improving the operation of substation personnel and equipment.”

On September 11, at around 3:30 a.m., Sergeant Lee went missing while rescuing a Chinese man in his 70s, identified as Mr. B, who had been stranded by the rising tide while gathering shellfish in the mudflat on Yeongheungdo, Ongjin County, Incheon. It was found that Sergeant Lee gave his own buoyancy vest and patrol gloves to Mr. B, who had injured his foot, and then attempted to swim out together, during which he went missing.

Sergeant Lee was found in cardiac arrest at 9:41 a.m. that day, in the sea 1.4 kilometers from Kkotseom, Yeongheung-myeon, and was transported to the hospital by emergency responders, but was pronounced dead.