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| Choi Seong-beom, chief of Yongsan Fire Station, speaks during a press briefing, Sunday, near Itaewon Station, where at least 154 people died in a crowd accident the day before. Yonhap |
By Nam Hyun-woo
Choi Seong-beom, chief of Yongsan Fire Station, has been lauded online for his dedication and work ethic after he gave a press briefing which was televised on Sunday about the crowd crush accident the night before.
Internet users characterized him as a life-saver who is tough on the outside but soft and caring on the inside.
Video footage that captured his hands trembling during the briefing went viral after one internet user uploaded it to an online community.
In the video clip, Choi explains what happened and answers questions from reporters. He looks calm but his left hand holding a mic is shaking. Choi gave five press briefings at the site from Saturday night to Sunday morning.
One wrote that "his voice is resolute and calm, but his hands are shaking, showing the seriousness of this tragedy."
During the briefings, Choi asked some people who were making noise nearby to behave and stay silent in a stern voice, so emergency workers could focus on doing their job. His blunt reaction to their carelessness made him look both serious and compassionate about the situation at hand.
Another wrote that "Like us, he would have been scared, too, as the victims piled up. The crowd crush that resulted in the surge of dead bodies must have been a dreadful situation even for veteran rescue workers like him."
Online users also left comments such as, "We should thank rescue forces who always stand firm amid chaos and work for our safety," and "There should be proper treatment for firefighters and paramedics who may suffer trauma."
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| A woman mourns at a memorial altar near Itaewon Station, Monday, where at least 154 people died in a crowd accident on Saturday. Yonhap |
Along with Choi's video clip, a post by an unnamed police officer also gained a lot of attention.
On Blind, a smartphone app via which people can share stories anonymously, the writer, identified as working at the National Police Agency, wrote on Sunday that he was deployed to Itaewon to help rescue operations, and he was still reliving the tragic scenes of the accident even after going off duty.
"As I saw people dying in front of my eyes, I tried whatever I could, but I could not save them," the user wrote. "I am very sorry I could not save more people and thank you to those from the police, fire brigade, medics and the general public who helped us."
Other users expressed their gratitude for the rescue efforts and left comments such as, "It is not your fault" and "Hope you also get psychological treatment."
The tragedy took place on Saturday night as a dense crowd surged in a narrow and sloped alley next to the Hamilton Hotel in Seoul's Itaewon area. As of Monday morning, 154 deaths have been reported, and the number could rise further as 33 others remain in a serious condition.
