College Student Who Extinguished Restaurant Fire Honored for Quick Response

A Kyung Hee University sophomore who put out a fire at a restaurant in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, with a fire extinguisher has received a commendation from the Suwon fire chief. According to the university on the 23rd, Hwang I-reum, 20, a sophomore in the Department of Sports Coaching, was honored that day for extinguishing a fire that broke out at a restaurant near campus on the afternoon of August 14.

Hwang, who was heading back to his dormitory after a hospital visit, noticed the fire, took a fire extinguisher from a nearby shop owner, and went inside himself to put out the flames. Thanks to his quick response, the fire did not spread widely.

Hwang said that although he felt it was dangerous, he was more worried about the fire spreading further. "It didn't seem like much time had passed since the fire started, so all I could think was that I had to put it out quickly," he added.

Hwang's father, Hwang Ui-seok, is a firefighter serving at the Seoul Jungbu Fire Station. Hwang said his father has always taught him to live by helping those in difficulty. The aspiring rugby referee said, "This experience has given me more confidence that I can help people in need."