Indonesian Fisherman and Two Locals Save 60 Lives in South Korea Worst Wildfire

Foreign fisherman Sugi Anto, who helped evacuate residents

🔥 A Race Against Time: How Three Heroes Led a Dramatic Rescue

As a raging wildfire spread through Yeongdeok, South Korea, an Indonesian fisherman, the village chief, and the fishing association head took matters into their own hands, helping evacuate 60 residents, many of whom were elderly and unable to flee on their own.

📍 The Wildfire's Rapid Spread

The fire started in Uiseong on March 22, 2025, spreading across Andong and Cheongsong before reaching Yeongdeok’s coastal village of Gyeongjeong 3-ri by March 25 at 6 PM. By 7:40 PM, thick smoke had already engulfed the village, and by 8:00 PM, flames had arrived. With electricity and communication lines down, most villagers were unaware of the immediate danger, making the situation even more critical.

Village in Fire in Yeongdeok on Mar 25th.

🚨 The Rescue Operation

As the wildfire closed in, Village Chief Kim Pil-kyung (56), Fishing Association Head Yoo Myung-shin (56), and Indonesian Fisherman Sugi Anto (31) sprang into action. They split up to cover different areas of the village—Kim went to the right, Yoo to the left, and Sugi took the central part of the village. Together, they shouted and knocked on doors to wake sleeping residents. Despite evacuation broadcasts, many villagers remained inside, either unaware or reluctant to leave. Realizing the urgency, the three rescuers physically pulled people out of their homes, ensuring they had a chance to escape before the fire reached them.

💪 Sugi Anto’s Heroic Effort

Among them, Sugi Anto, who had lived in the village for eight years, played a particularly crucial role. Speaking the local dialect, he called elderly women "할매" (halmae, grandma) to reassure them. Seeing that many of them struggled to move quickly, he took it upon himself to carry seven elderly women on his back, one by one, over a distance of 300 meters to the seawall, where they could find temporary safety.

The Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Oh Young-joo, came to shake hands, encourage, and thank foreign workers.

🚤 The Final Escape: Sea Rescue

As the fire engulfed the village, the remaining residents took shelter inside their cars or hid between concrete blocks along the seawall while desperately contacting the Coast Guard. Jeon Dae-heon (52), a civilian rescue leader, arrived with fishing boats and a leisure boat, but the rough conditions made docking impossible. Thinking quickly, he drove a truck to the seawall, loading 10 villagers and transporting them to the pier. Using his boat, he ferried 20 people to safety at Chuksan Port before returning to evacuate more residents. The Uljin Coast Guard later assisted in transporting the remaining villagers to safety.

💬 Public Reaction: A Call for Citizenship?

Following the rescue, many South Koreans have called for Sugi Anto to receive a long-term visa or even South Korean citizenship in recognition of his bravery. Some argue that foreign workers who put their lives at risk to save Korean citizens should be granted residency. The debate continues, with strong support for rewarding Sugi Anto’s selfless actions.

📚 Learn Korean Through This News

Korean Text:

급박했던 그날…외국인선원·이장·어촌계장, 주민 60명 살렸다. 

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Key Vocabulary:

급박했던 (geup-bak-hae-deon) – Urgent/life-threatening (Past adjective form of 급박하다)

외국인선원 (oe-guk-in-seon-won) – Foreign  fisherman

이장 (i-jang) – Village chief

어촌계장 (eo-chon-gye-jang) – Fishing cooperative leader

살렸다 (sal-lyeot-da) – "Saved" (Past tense of 살리다)

Translation:

That urgent day… A foreign fisherman, village chief, and fishing cooperative leader saved 60 residents. 

Reference: korea news, sbs news, nate news, yonhap news

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