Off-duty police officer braves flames to rescue elderly woman

An off-duty police officer has been lauded for his bravery after rushing into a burning house to rescue an elderly resident. The incident occurred on May 25th in a village in Gongsan-myeon, Naju, South Jeolla Province.

Officer Yoo Myeong-jae, from the Gongsan Police Post at Naju Police Station, was in the area when the fire broke out. Hearing that a resident was still trapped inside, he immediately entered the burning structure despite the escalating danger.

"I ran in because I heard there was still a person inside the house," Yoo explained. He located an 80-year-old grandmother who had not yet evacuated and safely escorted her out of the building. He then assisted firefighters in extinguishing the blaze and managing the scene.

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I ran in because I heard there was still a person inside the house.

The strong winds at the time posed a significant risk of the fire spreading, but the quick response of Yoo and the fire department contained the situation. Yoo expressed his relief, stating, "It's fortunate that everything was resolved well. As a police officer, it was my duty."

Online reactions praised Yoo's courage, with many commending his immediate action to save a life despite being off-duty. The incident was shared on the official YouTube channel of the Korean National Police Agency.

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As a police officer, it was my duty.