Complaints Over Coffee Gifts to Firefighters Spark Uproar... Flood of Posts Claiming "I'll Just Leave My Coffee at the Fire Station"

Notes with Messages Like "Thank You for Your Hard Work"
Also Asking, "I'll Take It Back Later, So Please Don't File Any Complaints"

There has been a flood of posts from citizens claiming they left boxes of coffee near fire stations because they were "too heavy to carry." This is a way of responding to concerns that complaints might be filed against firefighters who receive donated items.

On the 12th, numerous posts were uploaded on social media claiming that people had temporarily left boxes and baskets filled with coffee at fire stations. Netizen A, who wrote one of the posts, said, "I really like coffee, so I bought a lot, but it was too heavy to carry, so I left it at the fire station for a while," adding, "I'm going to pick it up later, so please don't file any complaints."

Another netizen, B, also wrote, "I love coffee so much that I emptied my wallet. It was really heavy," and added, "So I left it at the fire station."

In the photos they posted along with their messages, a green plastic basket is filled with coffee drinks. Paper notes with messages of support such as "Thank you always. I hope you are always safe," and "Thank you for your hard work day and night," are placed alongside the drinks.

However, some netizens expressed concern rather than praise for these good deeds. One commented, "If someone files a complaint over something like this, they are truly evil." Another wrote, "Even a single post like this could lead to a complaint and cause the fire station to face an audit. The writer's intentions are good, but next time it might be better not to post about it." In response, B said, "If someone files a complaint, I can just say I only left it there for a while," adding, "I was so nervous because it was my first time. Please look forward to the next one."

Asked to provide an explanation after giving gifts to firefighters

A netizen wrote that they left their coffee at a nearby fire station. SNS screenshot

There has actually been a case in which someone tried to express gratitude to firefighters by delivering donated items, only to end up in an awkward situation. According to reports from YTN and others on the 10th, a self-employed restaurant owner, B, in Seoul delivered 50 cups of coffee to the local fire station in October last year, and was then asked to explain the circumstances of the offer and whether there was any conflict of interest with any specific firefighter. This happened after someone filed a complaint through the national civil petition system.

At the time, B lamented, saying, "It was hard to accept that simply giving coffee to people who risk their lives at work could be considered a conflict of interest."

Meanwhile, under the current "Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft" (the Anti-Graft Act), public officials are prohibited from receiving money or valuables exceeding 1 million won per occasion, or 3 million won per fiscal year, regardless of whether it is related to their duties. However, gifts worth up to 50,000 won are allowed only when they are consistent with the purposes of facilitating official duties, or for social, customary, or condolence purposes.