[Anchor]

Mourners continue to pay their respects at the funeral of the late Fire Inspector Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty during a fire at a metal parts manufacturing plant in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Let's go live to the scene.

Reporter Kim Gyu-ri, I understand many visitors have come despite the poor weather?

[Reporter]

Yes, many mourners have visited the site today (October 18), marking the second day of the late Fire Inspector Kim's funeral.

Despite harsh weather conditions with strong winds and heavy rain, mourners formed lines to bid a final farewell to the deceased.

Fellow firefighters from all across the country wore black mourning ribbons and paid their respects with grim expressions.

A colleague who was particularly close to him could not hide his deep grief, saying that an unbelievable tragedy had occurred.

[Colleague of the late Fire Inspector Kim Jin-seok : Whenever we were in the field, we used to say no news is good news, and that was for the best... we never imagined this would happen... at first, we even denied it among ourselves....]

[Anchor]

Did a letter written by his young daughter, which was made public, make mourners even more heartbroken?

[Reporter]

In front of Fire Inspector Kim's portrait, a letter and drawing dedicated to his father by his young daughter, who is set to enter elementary school early next year, have been placed.

The letter contains the young daughter's final farewell, expressing that she still misses her father terribly and hoping to meet him again someday.

It also features a drawing of a fire engine dispatched to a scene.

The daughter's affectionate feelings toward her firefighter father are deepening the public's sorrow.

[Anchor]

How is the police investigation progressing?

[Reporter]

Police and firefighting authorities have ramped up their investigation to uncover the exact cause of the fire and determine accountability.

Police have successively summoned and questioned the factory representative and employees, and today booked the factory representative on charges of professional negligence resulting in injury and professional negligence by fire.

Investigators are closely examining whether the cleaning room, pointed out as the initial point of ignition, was properly managed.

Furthermore, it was found that the company had no history of obtaining permission to handle hazardous materials.

The Special Judicial Police for Firefighting are investigating the types and quantities of hazardous substances used at the factory.

The farewell ceremony for Fire Inspector Kim will be held at 9:30 AM tomorrow at the Bucheon Indoor Stadium as a Gyeonggi Provincial Government funeral.

Following the ceremony, Fire Inspector Kim will be laid to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery.

(Camera Reporter: Lee Byung-joo, Bae Moon-san | Video Editor: Lee Sang-min)