President Lee Jae-myung visited the funeral hall of Kim Jin-seok, a fire lieutenant who died in the line of duty while battling a blaze at a paint factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, and posthumously awarded him the Order of Service Merit, Okjo Medal. Leaders of both ruling and opposition parties also visited to mourn his sacrifice.
According to the Presidential Office on the 18th, Lee visited the funeral hall set up at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital the previous day. Lee laid flowers before the portrait of the deceased, observed a moment of silence, and personally placed the medal. He then sat down with Kim's wife and spoke with her at length to offer his condolences. Lee also asked how old Kim's daughter was, and after hearing the answer — "seven years old" — he fell silent for some time with a somber expression, unable to continue speaking.
The bereaved family expressed their worries, saying, "Please make sure our daughter can grow up well," and Lee nodded deeply. The Presidential Office said Lee "regretted being unable to express anything more than gratitude for the sacrifices of firefighters who serve the country." After paying his respects, Lee wished a speedy recovery for the firefighters being treated for injuries sustained at the same fire.
He instructed Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung to spare no support needed for their treatment and recovery. In the condolence book, Lee wrote, "In the safe daily lives you protected, the people will remember your sacrifice forever."
Leaders of both parties also joined in mourning. Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, visited the funeral hall that day. From the Reform Party, emergency committee chief Lee Ki-in and floor leader Cheon Ha-ram also attended. Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do, Secretary General Han Jeoung-ae and Shin Jang-sik, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, paid their respects the previous day.
Kim was part of the first unit deployed to the factory fire in Bucheon's Ojeong District on the 16th and was critically injured while fighting the blaze, dying the following day. He received a special one-rank posthumous promotion from fire sergeant to fire lieutenant. His funeral will be held on the 19th at Bucheon Gymnasium as a Gyeonggi Province-level ceremony, and he will be buried at Seoul National Cemetery.