Itaewon Disaster Trauma Victim Firefighter, Rep. Bae Hyun-jin Expresses Condolences

Rep. Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party expressed deep condolences to the firefighter who, after providing support at the Itaewon disaster site, suffered from trauma and ultimately lost his life.

On the 20th, Rep. Bae shared on her Facebook page, "I pray for the repose of the deceased," conveying her sorrow.

She stated, "It is heartbreaking and regrettable," and added, "I once again extend my heartfelt condolences to the emergency workers from that day who are still struggling and to the bereaved families."

Firefighter Supports Itaewon Disaster Scene, Makes Heartbreaking Choice After Enduring Mental Pain

The deceased firefighter, Mr. A, was found dead around 12:30 PM on the 20th under a bridge near the Seongnam 1st Ring Expressway in Gim Dong, Siheung City, Gyeonggi Province. Mr. A was a firefighter deployed to the Itaewon disaster site in October 2022, and it is reported that he suffered from severe trauma following that shocking experience.

Mr. A was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and experienced a decline in sleep quality after the disaster, continuously voicing his mental distress.

According to family testimonies, Mr. A left a note on the 9th stating, "I’m sorry to my family and friends," and then lost contact, prompting his family to file a missing person report.

During the search, police discovered Mr. A's vehicle parked on the right shoulder after exiting the Nam Incheon tollgate in Namdong-gu, Incheon around 2:30 AM on the 10th, but Mr. A was not at the scene. The last signal from Mr. A's mobile phone was detected near an apartment in Seo Chang-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, approximately 1 km from the vehicle.

The police secured CCTV footage capturing Mr. A moving towards Siheung from Incheon and conducted extensive search operations utilizing a mobile unit and rescue dogs.

Image source: Rep. Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party / News1, Bae Hyun-jin's Facebook, provided by Mr. A's family.