Gwangju Bukbu Fire Station Commends Citizens for CPR and Traffic Accident Rescue

Honoring the Good Deeds of Woongseok Lee and Taeheon Kim

The Gwangju Bukbu Fire Station has awarded commendations to two citizens. Woongseok Lee (43), who saved a collapsed patient through cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and Taeheon Kim (52), who rescued a driver and passenger at the scene of a traffic accident, were the recipients.

From the left, Mr. Taeheon Kim, who rescued the driver and passenger at the traffic accident scene, and Mr. Woongseok Lee, who saved the patient's life through cardiopulmonary resuscitation, are receiving a commendation from the Gwangju Bukbu Fire Station and taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Bukbu Fire Station

On the evening of June 16, Mr. Lee discovered a patient in their 50s who had collapsed on a walking trail in Munheung-dong, Buk-gu. He immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, handed the patient over to the 119 emergency medical team upon their arrival, and quietly left the scene. The patient recovered after hospital treatment, and Mr. Lee's good deed only came to light later, leading to the commendation.

Mr. Kim, a city bus driver and a member of the Bukbu Volunteer Fire Brigade, came across a passenger car that had crashed into a median strip on his way home on the night of August 18. He moved the driver and passenger to safety, cleared debris from the road, and used his phone's flashlight to control traffic, preventing secondary accidents. A police investigation revealed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol, so Mr. Kim not only contributed to the rescue but also helped in detecting drunk driving.

Lee Junghong, head of the 119 Disaster Response Division, said, "We are grateful to both individuals for protecting precious lives with their courageous actions," and added, "Their swift response has laid the foundation for a safer society."