Indonesian sailor who aided wildfire evacuation may receive residency
Sugiyanto, an Indonesian sailor who helped evacuate residents during the wildfire. Yonhap
The Ministry of Justice announced that it is considering granting long-term residency status to Sugiyanto, a 41-year-old Indonesian sailor who helped evacuate older residents during a recent wildfire in Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province.
The F-2 long-term residency visa may be granted at the discretion of the justice minister to individuals recognized as having made a special contribution to the Republic of Korea or who have served the public interest.
Sugiyanto assisted in the emergency evacuation on the night of March 25, when a wildfire that began in Uiseong County spread to his coastal village in Yeongdeok. Working alongside village fishery head Yoo Myung-shin, Sugiyanto went door-to-door to alert residents, many of whom are elderly, and help them escape to safety.
Having come to Korea eight years ago on a work visa, Sugiyanto is fluent in Korean and is well-known among local residents. He shouted, “Grandma, there’s a fire in the mountain! You need to evacuate now!” as he banged on doors to wake sleeping villagers.
Given the steep terrain and narrow coastal roads, evacuating elderly and mobility-impaired residents was difficult. Sugiyanto and Yoo are said to have carried some villagers on their backs nearly 300 meters to a seawall at the edge of the village, where everyone was able to shelter safely.
About 60 residents live in Gyeongjeong 3-ri, the village in Chuksan Township, Yeongdeok County, where Sugiyanto resides. Thanks to his quick response, all were evacuated without injury.
“If it weren’t for Sugiyanto, we might not have survived,” said one 90-year-old resident. “I had fallen asleep watching TV, and when I woke up to someone shouting about a fire, it was Sugiyanto at my door. He carried me out of the house.”
Grateful villagers said they hope to continue living alongside the “trustworthy and admirable young man.”
Sugiyanto, who has a wife and a five-year-old son in Indonesia, said he considers Korea his second home. “I love Korea. The people in my village feel like family,” he said. “I’m supposed to return home in three years, but my wife called to say she was proud of me. I’m just glad no one was hurt.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.