Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Firefighters take semi-nude pictures to raise money for burned children
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A firefighter models for the 2015 calendar made and distributed by the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters. He and 12 other firefighters posed for the photos to raise money for children suffering from burn injuries. / Courtesy of SMFDH
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
A group of firefighters stripped off their uniforms to become semi-naked calendar models.
Thirteen firefighters, who took part in a bodybuilding competition organized by Seoul Metropolitan Government to select the most physically-fit firefighters in May, decided to have their photos taken to raise money for the parents of burned children having financial difficulties for treatment.
The Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters, which made and distributed the 2015 calendar, said that it adopted the idea from the United States and Japan where calendars featuring firefighters as models are hugely popular.
The shooting took place over the past three months in Seoul.
Two photographers, Kim Dae-hyung and Lee Jeong-bum, donated their talent for the goodwill mission.
For each 10,000 won donated to the Hallym Burn Foundation, a calendar has been delivered to the donor.
As of Dec. 23, some 500 people including civil servants and colleague firefighters have raised over 5 million won.
That money will be used for the treatment of four-year-old Shin Jae-bin, who is recovering from second-degree burns inflicted when his sister accidentally dropped a frying pan with boiling cooking oil over his upper body.
Shin’s family with five sisters and brothers has been living on basic government aid.
“The money raised by the calendar has been planned to be used for Shin, but as we collect more we plan to select other children,” said an official at the fire headquarters.
The fundraising has been closed for the moment, but following increasing citizens’ requests for the calendar, the headquarters is considering printing more copies than the initially-planned 1,000.