Calling for better working conditions for firefighters

Chung Bi-dan, son of deceased firefighter Chung Sung-cheol, stages a rally in his father’s uniform at Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul, Sept. 27, to call for better working conditions for firefighters. / Yonhap

By Kim se-jeong

Chung Bi-dan, 24, a college student, staged a one-man rally in Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, Sept. 27, advocating better working conditions for firefighters.

His reason for doing that is personal. He lost his firefighter father in July.

His father, Chung Sung-cheol, 52, and his four colleagues were onboard a helicopter that crashed in the southwestern city of Gwangju on July 17. The helicopter was on its way back to Gangwon Province from Paengmok Port in Jindo Island where it transported recovered bodies to the shore from the ferry Sewol sinking.

Almost 80 days after the tragedy, the son took to the street, dressed in his father’s black uniform. For the most part, he stayed quiet, holding a yellow vertical board that reads, “Is MOSPA (Ministry of Security and Public Administration) competent enough to rescue people in danger like firefighters? I demand the authority of MOSPA be reduced and the fire service be undertaken by the central government.”

His demands are two.

“My father belonged to Gangwon Fire Headquarters, meaning he was a regional public servant of Gangwon Province. But he was mobilized to fly all the way down to Gwangju. This system is nonsense,” he told reporters. “If the authorities want to dispatch people like that, they should change the firefighters’ status into central government employees.”

The son also wanted better benefits for them. “You know they are exposed to all kinds of danger. But the danger payment is only 50,000 won per month.”

By law, firefighters are the employees of 17 provinces and metropolitan cities, not the central government. In other words, their duties don’t cross provincial borders.

However, Gangwon Fire Headquarters said exceptions occur from time to time when a disaster happens. And the Sewol ferry disaster was one of them.

Chung also criticized MOSPA for exerting too much authority, although it has no understanding of ground operations.

“MOSPA’s authority should be reduced. The National Emergency Management Agency knows what they are doing, and they should be good enough to be in charge.”

Chung plans to stage the protest every weekend.