President Lee Jae-myung visited the funeral hall of Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok on the evening of the 17th to console his family. As party leaders from across the aisle filed in, pledges to improve firefighters' treatment and on-site safety were heard.
According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun and Newspim, President Lee Jae-myung arrived at about 6:14 p.m. on the 17th at the funeral hall of Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, where Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok is lying in state. He was accompanied by Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung, Fire Agency Commissioner Choi Yong-cheol, Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun, spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung and Kim Hyun-ji, head of the first secretariat.
광고 문의 · 300×250Wearing white gloves, Lee knelt to lay a flower and offer incense, then observed a moment of silence. He personally placed the posthumously conferred Order of Service Merit before the portrait. In the guest book he wrote, in essence, that the public will forever remember Kim's sacrifice in the safe daily life he protected.
He spent a long time with the family. The president asked Kim's wife how old their daughter was and, on hearing she is seven, was reportedly silent for a while. He asked Kim's father whether Kim was an only son and offered comfort. Newspim reported that the family asked that the daughter be raised well, and Lee nodded deeply.
Lee wished a speedy recovery to a firefighter still being treated after the same fire and told Minister Yun to spare no support for treatment and rehabilitation. Spokesperson Kang said the president views strengthening firefighters' on-site safety and honoring their sacrifice as the state's duty. According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, Kim receives a posthumous one-rank promotion, the medal, and burial at the National Cemetery.
Political visits continued. According to Ajunews and others, Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do and Secretary-General Han Jeong-ae, and Rebuilding Korea Party leader Shin Jang-sik and Secretary-General Jeong Chun-saeng, visited on the 17th. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk and other leaders, along with Reform Party interim chair Lee Ki-in and floor leader Chun Ha-ram, were due on the morning of the 18th, and Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok planned to go on the 18th.
Alongside condolences, parties spoke of institutional fixes. Kim Min-seok said on Facebook that the party would work on policy to strengthen safe working conditions and support for firefighters, while Jang Dong-hyuk said fire investment is the foundation of public safety and the state should support firefighters without stint. PPP lawmaker Chung Jum-sik said he would closely review and strengthen support systems and budgets for the families of fallen firefighters. Kim also apologized on the party's behalf to firefighters and citizens hurt by a remark on fire services by a provincial governor from his party.
No specific bill or budget figure has been presented yet. Dailian reported that the family urged visiting figures to improve safety systems and invest in fire safety. Follow-up discussion on field safety measures and honors for those killed in the line of duty is expected to continue alongside the findings on the fire's cause.