"50 Cups of Coffee Given in Goodwill to Firefighters Came Back as a Complaint"

Expressing Thanks Leads to Fire Station Complaint
Gift Ban Measures Discourage Even Simple Acts of Sharing

"Have you ever donated coffee to a fire station?"

Park Mingyu (33), who runs a restaurant in Seoul, received an unexpected phone call on the 3rd. The voice on the other end of the line explained that a complaint had been filed about the 50 cups of coffee Park donated to the local fire station four months earlier.

The story began in October last year. Having long felt grateful whenever he saw firefighters putting out fires, Park decided to show his support by delivering 50 cups of coffee. The fire station’s inspection department asked him to explain the circumstances under which he provided the coffee and whether he had any interest-based relationship with any particular firefighter. Park said, "It was hard for me to accept that simply giving a few cups of coffee to people who risk their lives at work could be considered an interest-based relationship, especially when it is not as if they would put out a fire at my place first," adding, "If encouragement and good deeds come back as administrative procedures like civil complaints, who would step up to express their gratitude?"

In August last year, firefighters were taking a short rest during firefighting operations at the scene of an apartment fire in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The restaurant owner who handed coffee to firefighters as a token of appreciation ended up becoming the subject of a civil complaint. Critics argue that regulations restricting the exchange of money and valuables with persons related to one’s official duties are discouraging even neighborly sharing and expressions of gratitude.

According to the fire authorities on the 9th, the fire station in question conducted an internal review of the matter after a civil complaint was filed through the e-People petition system on the 2nd. An official from the firefighting administration department said, "Once a complaint is filed, verifying the facts is an unavoidable step," and explained, "Since this was not subject to punishment or disciplinary action, we closed the case as a guidance measure by informing Mr. Park, who gifted the coffee, that under the regulations it is difficult for us to accept gifts from outside parties."

Under the current Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, the receipt of money, valuables, or similar benefits is, in principle, prohibited when a job-related connection is recognized. However, the Enforcement Decree allows gifts or snacks worth up to 50,000 won when they are consistent with the purposes of facilitating official duties or social or customary courtesy.

The problem is that this is far removed from the sense of sharing and neighborhood sentiment that citizens actually feel. There is also criticism that complaints are frequently filed regardless of how serious the matter is or whether there is any substantive illegality. Lee Byunghoon, a sociology professor at Chung-Ang University, said, "An attempt to show goodwill toward firefighters has turned into a burden for everyone," adding, "(For the authorities in charge as well) it is difficult because they have to handle all complaints in the same way without knowing the intent behind them."