President Lee mourns firefighter killed in Bucheon factory fire: “Heartbroken; I will not forget the firefighter’s sacrifice”

Financial News] President Lee expressed his condolences on the 17th over the death of a firefighter in the line of duty while responding to a factory fire in Bucheon, saying he felt “devastated” and, “May the deceased rest in peace.”
That day, President Lee wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I will not forget the deceased’s sacrifice.”
President Lee stressed, “I will remember deeply the dedication of the deceased, who went to a dangerous scene to protect the lives and safety of the public,” adding, “The safety of firefighters who protect the public is a duty the state must uphold.”
He said, “The government will thoroughly review safety measures and address any shortcomings so that personnel in the field can carry out their duties more safely.”
He also said, “I will carefully ensure that firefighters who devote themselves to serving the public receive the respect and treatment commensurate with their sacrifice and hard work. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families who have lost a loved one. I also offer my heartfelt comfort to the fellow firefighters who are sharing in their grief.”
Earlier, at around 8:38 a.m. on the 16th, a fire broke out at a metal injection-molding and painting factory on the third floor of a five-story building in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. It was completely extinguished at around 11:06 a.m., 2 hours and 28 minutes later.
Among the two firefighters in their 40s who were deployed as part of the initial response team and became trapped while fighting the fire, firefighter A was taken to hospital in cardiac arrest but died while receiving treatment. Another firefighter who was trapped alongside A was also seriously injured.
In addition, four firefighters and two factory personnel received hospital treatment for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation, among other conditions, bringing the total number of casualties in the fire to eight. Police formed a dedicated investigative team to determine the cause of the fire and where responsibility lay, and launched a full-scale investigation.
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter