LG honors 4 heroes who saved lives

Clockwise from upper left, Kim Ha-soo, Lee Kwang-won, Lee Ki-sung and Song Young-bong were selected as recipients of the LG Humanitarian Award. / Courtesy of LG Foundation

By Kim Hyun-bin

LG Foundation has presented awards to four neighborhood heroes for saving the lives of other people. Three of them ― Kim Ha-su, Lee Kwang-won and Song Young-bong ― jumped into the sea to save people who were drowning, and the fourth, Lee Ki-seong, rescued three elderly people from a fire. They were selected as recipients of the LG Humanitarian Award, which was established in 2015.

Kim Ha-su, 70, was walking to a convenience store in Geoje City, South Gyeongsang Province, in February when he saw a person floating out in the open sea. Noticing that the man was breathing while not moving at all, Kim went out to rescue him. He immediately took off his coat and jumped into the cold water.

"I thought that the life of a young man could be in danger, so I jumped into the water," Kim said. "Of course, I just did what I had to do."

Lee Kwang-won, 42, meanwhile, was working at a restaurant at a port in Yangyang County, Gangwon Province, when he saw a car crash into the sea near the port. There were four people in the vehicle. Lee jumped straight into the ocean to rescue those trapped in the vehicle.

Song Young-bong, 51, was on his way home in Dong District, Ulsan, in late January, when he witnessed a man in his 60s fall into the sea. Even though Song can't swim, he jumped into the water and held onto the man to keep him from being carried away by the current and drowning.

Finally, firefighter Lee Ki-seong, 32, rescued three elderly people who could not escape from a fire in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

"The award is given to encourage courageous citizens who are willing to risk their lives for others," an LG Foundation official said.

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