LG awards man who evacuated citizens from collapsing building

Daegu city official Kim Min-seong, center right, and Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin, center left, pose for a picture after Kim received the LG Humanitarian Award with family and an LG Welfare Foundation official. Courtesy of Daegu City Government

By Kim Hyun-bin

An LG Humanitarian Award was given to Kim Min-seong, a Daegu Metropolitan City worker who detected an imminent ceiling collapse and evacuated the people in harm's way while incurring injuries himself.

The awards ceremony was held last week at Daegu City Hall, with LG Welfare Foundation CEO Jung Chang-hoon and Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin in attendance.

Kim visited a large meat distribution center in Daepyeong-dong, Gyeongsan District, in September and was able to detect signs of possible ceiling collapse. He helped evacuate 20 people who were inside the building.

Without Kim's quick judgment, the situation could have led to a serious accident, but due to Kim's swift actions, casualties were prevented.

The incident was widely reported nationwide through media outlets.

"It's a dizzying moment even thinking about it now. The accident occurred in less than three to four minutes after the first crack was discovered. I did what I had to do and am deeply grateful to the LG Welfare Foundation for the award,” Kim said.

“I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the employees to the LG Welfare Foundation for its excellent social project and coming down to Daegu to give out the award. Kim's sacrifices should be made as a role model case for Daegu city officials,” Mayor Kwon said.

The LG Humanitarian Award was established in 2015 to reflect the will of late Chairman Koo Bon-moo, who wanted to award righteous people who sacrificed themselves for the national and social good.