59th Cheongryong Volunteer Awards Ceremony Held in Seoul

On July 8, the 59th Cheongryong Volunteer Awards ceremony took place at the Seoul Press Center, where awardees proudly held their plaques. In the front row, from left to right, were Oh Seung-hyun, the wife of the late Kwak Han-gil, Baek Won-jin, the father of police officer Baek Ok-hyun, the couple Hwang Young-sook and Lee Dae-sung, and Yoo Myung-sin, the head of the fishing village association in Gyeongbuk Yeongdeok-gun, along with Ha Sang-hoon, the director of the Lifeline. In the back row, from left, were police officers Shin Jin-hoon, Lee Yul-hak, Kim Young-bong, and Kim Jung-won. This year, Baek Won-jin was stationed in Cambodia, and Yoo Myung-sin was in Indonesia, so they attended on behalf of their colleagues.

Oh Seung-hyun, 50, expressed her gratitude during the ceremony, saying, "Though our time was short, I am always thankful for my husband, who was like a friend and the bravest dad in the world. Let’s meet again and live happily together." Her emotional words brought tears to the eyes of many attendees.

Kwak Han-gil tragically lost his life last January while rescuing a truck driver involved in an accident on the Gyeongbu Expressway, at the age of 49. On this day, the Chosun Ilbo and the National Police Agency honored him posthumously with the Cheongryong Volunteer Award for his bravery.

The Cheongryong Volunteer Awards, now in its 59th year, recognize the contributions of police officers dedicated to public safety and citizens who assist those in need. The ceremony was attended by approximately 100 people, including Chosun Ilbo President Bang Jun-ho, Kim Byung-woo, the National Police Agency's Personnel Planning Officer, and the head of the Cheongryong Volunteer Association, Choi Byeong-gap, along with families and colleagues of the awardees. Each recipient received a plaque, a certificate, and a cash prize of 10 million won.

The Loyalty Award (충상) was presented to Baek Won-jin, 49, a police officer stationed in Cambodia. Since August 2022, he has worked as a police consul, successfully rescuing 266 South Koreans kidnapped by local criminal organizations and repatriating 68 Korean criminals.

The Courage Award (용상) was awarded to Shin Jin-hoon, 48, from the Gyeongnam Provincial Police's Criminal Investigation Unit, and Lee Yul-hak, 41, from the Women and Youth Division of the Namyangju Southern Police Station in Gyeonggi Province. Shin apprehended all three suspects involved in the 'Drum Can Murder Case' in Pattaya, Thailand, four months after the incident, while Lee has arrested 20 individuals, including sex offenders and domestic violence perpetrators, since 2020.

The Trust Award (신상) went to Kim Young-bong, 45, from the Seoul Police Agency's Gangseo Division, and Kim Jung-won, 32, from the Suwon Western Police Station in Gyeonggi Province. Kim Young-bong saved a citizen who collapsed from cardiac arrest at a gym last June, while Kim Jung-won has been actively volunteering by distributing meals to the elderly and homeless once a month since founding a police volunteer group in October 2023.

The Benevolence Award (인상) was given to the couple Lee Dae-sung, 70, and Hwang Young-sook, 58, from Gyeongbuk Yeongju, and Ha Sang-hoon, 65, the director of Lifeline. Despite their disabilities, the couple has donated money collected from recycling since 2011. Ha has dedicated 37 years to suicide prevention efforts. Additionally, Sugianto, 31, an Indonesian who assisted in evacuating residents during the recent forest fires in Yeongdeok, received the same honor as Kwak.

Chosun Ilbo President Bang Jun-ho remarked, "Without these individuals, many would have suffered and lost precious lives. Society will never forget your sacrifices and hard work." Kim Byung-woo added, "The good seeds you have sown will return as valuable fruits that brighten our society."