JEUNGPYEONG, May 10 (Korea Bizwire) — On April 2, Kang Yeon-hui, a 51-year-old female paramedic from the Iksan Fire Station, was hit in the head by a drunken man in his 40s.
Four days later, Kang was hospitalized after suffering from vomiting and dizziness before undergoing surgery for cerebral hemorrhage and pulmonary angioneurotic edema.
She passed away on May 1 after her symptoms worsened.
Kang’s death has left the South Korean public clamoring for change. Many South Koreans have suggested that the government should take preventative measures to ensure something similar doesn’t happen again.
In response to the public outcry, the National Fire Agency has created a task force to rectify the system. The agency is also seeking to implement harsher laws that would punish people who assault firefighters and other first responders.
According to data presented by a member of the National Assembly, 870 cases of verbal abuse or assault were reported by members of the squad from 2002 to 2017.
With physical and verbal abuse of firefighters and paramedics on the rise, a new animation created by Jeungpyeong Fire Station in North Chungcheong Province in April is garnering attention.
The 35-second animation video starts with a scene in which a paramedic is being assaulted inside an ambulance. Soon afterwards, two citizens and a young girl appear.
They try to pacify and encourage the paramedic. Gathering up courage, the paramedic changes into his orange uniform and rushes to the scene of an emergency.
Oh Dong-gyo, the creator of the animation said, “I hope that the public can show their respect to the firemen and paramedics who work passionately to protect the safety of the people.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
