Navy commander shines with virtuous activity

By Lee Min-hyung

Navy commander Kim Yong-woo

Kim Yong-woo, a Navy commander, became the talk of the nation's military for a series of virtuous activities after rescuing a person from drowning.

Last month, he saved a civilian who fell into the Han River in Seoul. Kim, who was passing near the area, jumped into the river with the sole aim of saving the person's life.

Rescuing the woman was tough as she was floundering about 150 meters away from the shore. But Kim did not hesitate to dive into the water when no one else did.

With his story becoming the talk of the town, LG Group awarded him 10 million won ($8,900). But Kim's good deed did not stop there, as he decided to donate all the prize money for a Navy-run scholarship foundation.

“I decided to donate the money as soon as I was informed I had won the award,” Kim said in an interview, Wednesday. “All of my family members shared the same idea, so I was more than pleased to make the donation for those in need.”

The Navy Scholarship Foundation was established in 2014 to pay respect to Navy soldiers who died while fulfilling their military duty. The foundation provides scholarships for their children.

Kim has donated regularly to the foundation since the latter half of 2015, as he hoped to play a part in honoring the spirit of the sacrifices of his fellow sailors for the nation.

“But as far as I know, the foundation has yet to collect enough cash for its stable management,” Kim said. “I expect my donation will raise awareness of the foundation.”

Kim, 51, said he became an officer in the Korean Navy mainly due to his love for the sea. Born on the nation's southernmost island of Jeju, he dreamed doing work related with the sea.

“I started my military career as a naval officer in 1990, and won a license to work with maritime rescue activities and engaged in rescue work at sea for three years,” Kim said. “Since then, I have worked mostly conducting military missions in a submarine.”

Kim plans to continue working for rescue activities even after his retirement which is scheduled in 2020.

“I have a keen interest in disaster prevention, but no specific roadmap for my life after I retire from the Navy,” he said. “I will sincerely fulfill my military duty until retirement.”