"Daddy, Let's Meet Again, I Love You": 6-Year-Old Daughter's Final Farewell

A letter written by the young daughter of the late Fire Inspector Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty during a fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, has been made public, drawing deep sympathy.

The letter, written by Inspector Kim's daughter, who is set to enter elementary school next year, was included in photos posted on social media today (Oct. 18) by Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil.

Starting with "Dear Daddy, whom I miss," the young daughter wrote, "Daddy passed away yesterday, but I miss you so much even now. We are at the funeral hall right now."

She continued, "I know. That you loved me the most," adding, "Daddy, whom I miss, let's make sure to meet again later. By then, I will probably be all grown up."

She concluded by writing, "I love you. Daddy, whom I miss. I love you."

Next to the letter, she drew a fire truck along with the word "Dispatch."

After paying his respects, lawmaker Song wrote on social media, "Seeing the portrait and the letter written to her father by the 6-year-old daughter placed in front of it brings tears to my eyes," adding, "I vow to do my utmost to prevent tragedies where a firefighter's departure for work becomes their final farewell."


According to the bereaved family, Inspector Kim, an 11-year veteran firefighter, had completed his 24-hour shift and was just about to leave work at 9:00 AM on the day of the fire.

However, upon hearing news of the fire at 8:38 AM, he boarded a fire engine without hesitation.

It was a mere 20 minutes before his off-duty time.

Inspector Kim and three others arrived as the first response team and immediately entered the third floor of the building to begin suppression efforts, but as the flames spread in an instant, two people including him became trapped inside.

A colleague who entered with him managed to escape, but Inspector Kim was found about 27 minutes later, some 5 meters deeper inside.

He was already in a state of cardiac arrest.

Inspector Kim, who had been married for 8 years, was reportedly planning to move into an apartment in Gyeonggi Province soon to set up a new home with his wife and his daughter, who is scheduled to enter elementary school next year.

Around 8:38 AM on October 16, a fire broke out at a metal injection printing factory in Nae-dong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon, and was extinguished 2 hours and 28 minutes later.

The fire claimed the life of Inspector Kim and left another firefighter in his 40s severely injured.

In addition, a total of eight people suffered mild to severe injuries, including four other firefighters who received hospital treatment for heat exhaustion symptoms and two factory officials for smoke inhalation.

To pay full respects to Inspector Kim, the government has posthumously promoted him one rank from Senior Firefighter to Fire Inspector, awarded him the Okjo Order of Service Merit, and plans to support his burial at a National Cemetery.

(Photo: Captured from Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil's Facebook, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.