The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that it flew flags at half-mast on the 6th to mourn Air Firefighter Lee Young-do from the Gangneung Forest Aviation Office, who died in the line of duty on January 3. The burial ceremony for the firefighter, who passed away during a rescue operation in Seoraksan, is scheduled to take place at the Daejeon National Cemetery. As a sign of mourning, flags were flown at half-mast at the Ministry’s headquarters in Sejong, across local veterans’ offices, and at national cemeteries.
The Ministry typically flies flags at half-mast on the day of the burial ceremony for personnel who lose their lives performing dangerous duties to protect the lives and safety of the public. This is the sixth occurrence of flying flags at half-mast, following ceremonies for firefighting officers and military personnel who died in the line of duty in recent months, such as Firefighter Seong Gong-il in March 2023 and Sergeant Han Jin-ho in March 2024.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs holds public servants who sacrifice their lives performing their duties to protect the public as national heroes, ensuring they receive appropriate honors. They plan to actively cooperate with related institutions, such as the Korea Forest Service and the Ministry of Personnel Management, to provide timely support for the family of the deceased firefighter Lee Young-do.