High school students win LG award for saving life
Gangwon Physical Education High School seniors, from left, Seong Joon-yong, Kim Ji-soo and Choi Tae-joon pose at their school in Chuncheon, Nov. 3, after winning a humanitarian award from the LG Foundation for saving a woman trapped in a sinking car. At right is Nam Sang-geon, vice president of the foundation. / Courtesy of LG Group
By Kang Seung-woo
Three 19-year-old high school students in Gangwon Province have won a humanitarian award from the LG Foundation for saving a woman drowning in a lake.
They are the youngest award winners since its establishment in 2015, according to LG.
Kim Ji-soo, Seong Joon-yong and Choi Tae-joon, all from Gangwon Physical Education High School, witnessed a screaming woman trapped in a car that was sinking into Lake Uiam in Chuncheon, Nov. 1.
While many passersby were reluctant to come forward to save her, the high school students, who are swimmers, immediately jumped into the lake and saved the drowning woman after swimming 20 meters.
The woman, who survived thanks to the three young men’s heroic act, is now recovering.
“Some discouraged us from jumping into the water as the rescue may have put us at risk too,” the students said. “However, we learned survival swimming and lifesaving at school, so we did as we learned.”
An LG official said, “Even though people are good at swimming, it is not an easy job to jump into deep and cold water and save a drowning person. Their heroic act will become a model for other students to follow.”
The LG Foundation, the welfare arm of LG Group, has been awarding prizes since 2015, with 56 people honored, as part of its corporate social responsibility programs for those who sacrifice for social justice and the country.
“This is in line with LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo’s management philosophy to give more back to society,” the LG official said.