KOREAN NET

Minister of Justice Park Sung Jae (second from left) on April 18 takes a photo at a ceremony to honor three Indonesian sailors who saved dozens of lives during the country's recent wildfires at Government Complex Gwacheon in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do Province. (Ministry of Justice)

By Margareth Theresia

Three Indonesian sailors have been hailed as heroes in the country after rescuing elderly residents on March 25 from wildfires in the township of Chuksan-myeon in Yeongdeok-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

The men enabled dozens of residents to safely evacuate, earning them government commendations and the F-2-16 visa, or that for expats making special contributions to the country.

One of the three, Sugianto, has been a sailor since arriving in Korea eight years ago. A resident of the village of Gyeongjeong 3-ri in Yeongdeok-gun's Chuksan-myeon Township, he joined his fellow Indonesian sailors and the village chief to check each home of elderly residents with limited mobility and evacuated them.

Sugianto carried the senior citizens on his back to a seawall 150 m away, playing an integral role in saving dozens of lives. He said, "These villagers are like a family to me."

Another sailor, Leo Dipiyo, carried on his back an elderly woman to the seawall and then guided a couple with limited movement to a safe region.

At the seawall, Vicky Septa Eka Saputra helped the residents board fishing boats to safety. Thanks to the efforts of these three, about 60 villagers evacuated without major bodily injury.

The Ministry of Justice on April 18 honored the trio for their heroism with commendations from its minister and upgrades of their visas from the E-9-4, or that for non-professional fisheries workers, to the F-2-16, which allows long-term residence in Korea.

The awards ceremony for these men was held the same day at Government Complex Gwacheon in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do Province. Leading officials like acting Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Zelda Wulan Kartika and the head of the Maritime Rescue and Salvage Association's Yeongdeok-gun branch attended the event, lauding the trio's bravery.

"The brave actions of these three Indonesian sailors saved many lives," Minister of Justice Park Sung Jae said in a congratulatory speech. "Their actions deeply resonated and greatly comforted the hearts of the people amid the difficult time of a national disaster caused by wildfires."

"I only did what I had to," Sugianto said after receiving his certificate. "My dream is to succeed in Korea and become a captain someday."

margareth@korea.kr