The Identity of the Korean Newlywed Who Saved a Life at Piazza del Duomo in Italy Revealed: 'Thank You, Civil Servant'

[The Financial News]"Please see this as a case of a public official fulfilling their basic duty abroad. It wasn't an act of special courage."These are the calm words of Jaeheon Yun, 35, who returned from his honeymoon in Italy after saving a person’s life.
On November 2 at around 5:30 p.m., Yun was enjoying his honeymoon at Piazza del Duomo, a major tourist attraction in Milan, Italy, when he spotted a man in his 50s collapsed on the ground. Locals and tourists had gathered around, but everyone seemed too shocked to respond.
Yun hesitated for a moment. He was concerned that intervening might disrupt the travel plans of his tour group, and he worried about the potential consequences if things went wrong.
However, his hesitation was brief. Prioritizing the value of a human life, Yun pushed through the crowd and immediately began first aid. While he asked his wife and bystanders to call emergency services and performed CPR, local police and rescue workers arrived, and the man’s breathing was restored.
Yun was able to act without hesitation in a foreign country because he is a lieutenant in the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), 67th class of officer candidates. As a member of the KCG, he was well-trained in CPR and lifesaving procedures.
Currently, he is on assignment with the Disaster Response Team at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, where he monitors and responds to accidents and disasters nationwide. He fully understands the importance of an immediate response. Yun’s wife is also a public official at the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL), enabling them to respond quickly together in emergencies.
Speaking to News1, Yun said, "I simply thought I had to save the person. After checking for vital signs and finding no breathing, I immediately began CPR for two to three minutes." He emphasized, "As a public official, I just did what was expected in an unexpected situation abroad. Any Korean civil servant would have done the same."
When the Embassy of Italy in Seoul learned of the incident, Emilia Gatto, Ambassador of Italy to South Korea, expressed her gratitude to Yun. On the 28th of last month, Yun visited the Embassy of Italy in Seoul with his family and told Ambassador Gatto, "This is not about me personally, but an expression of trust and appreciation for Korea's public service."
An official from the Office for Government Policy Coordination stated, "Lieutenant Yun belongs to the Disaster Response Team, which operates 24/7. He has always been praised by colleagues for his positive and proactive attitude, regardless of weekends, holidays, or day and night shifts."

bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter