Soldiers awarded for saving baby falling unconscious

The four soldiers saved a baby that was falling unconscious on the road on Jan. 16. From left are Corporal Jin Seok-yeol, Sergeant First Class Lim Cha-dol, Captain Park Jong-goong and Captain Jeon Seong-geun. / Courtesy of LG Foundation

By Jun Ji-hye

Four soldiers belonging to the Capital Defense Command have been awarded by LG Foundation for saving a baby that was falling unconscious by giving first aid and helping its parents rush the baby to a hospital.

LG Foundation, a charity organization under LG Group, said Monday that it decided to award the prize to the four soldiers ― 35-year-old Captain Jeon Seong-geun, 28-year-old Captain Park Jong-goong, 33-year-old Sergeant First Class Lim Cha-dol and 22-year-old Corporal Jin Seok-yeol.

The cash prize is part of the so-called “Righteous People Prize” given by LG Foundation.

The 13-month-old baby showed difficulty breathing and suddenly lost consciousness in the father's arms in the backseat of the car driving on Olympic Highway in Seoul on Jan. 16.

The mother, who was driving, and the father were not familiar with the area as the family lives in Incheon. The parents were in a panic experiencing difficulties finding the fastest way to a hospital.

At the time, they saw a car with flashing lights and soldiers inside. The soldiers were on their way back to their unit.

The mother lowered the car window, shouting: “Help us. Our baby cannot breathe.”

The four soldiers stopped their car immediately and let the father with the baby in his arms into their car.

Then the soldiers turned on a siren, rushing to the nearest Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital.

On the way to the hospital, Sergeant First Class Lim Cha-dol did cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the baby in the car.

The baby arrived at the hospital in five minutes and was able to receive proper treatment. The baby was later discharged from the hospital.

The story was made public after the parents posted a message on a website of the defense ministry, expressing their gratitude to the soldiers.

“The soldiers said it was a sure thing for soldiers to protect people's lives,” an official from LG Foundation said. “We decided to award them the Righteous People Prize in recognition of their good deed.”