SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of Justice announced Monday that it is reviewing the possibility of granting long-term residency to Sugianto, a 31-year-old Indonesian national who helped rescue elderly residents during a deadly wildfire in North Gyeongsang Province in late March.
The ministry said it is considering offering Sugianto an F-2 visa, a long-term residency status that can be granted to individuals who have made special contributions to South Korea.
Sugianto was widely praised after risking his life to help evacuate residents during the massive wildfire that broke out on Mar. 25 in Uiseong County and rapidly spread to coastal villages in Yeongdeok. The fire, driven by strong winds and dry weather, destroyed hundreds of hectares of forest and forced the evacuation of thousands.
According to reports from the emergency headquarters, Sugianto -- an Indonesian fisherman working and living in Yeongdeok -- carried elderly residents on his back to safety. As the flames approached the coastal village, he guided several people to a breakwater roughly 300 meters away, helping them escape the deadly blaze.
Video clips and eyewitness accounts of his actions quickly circulated online, drawing public admiration and calls for official recognition. Local residents reportedly described Sugianto as calm, selfless, and decisive at a moment when many were panicked.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that it is reviewing Sugianto’s eligibility for the F-2 visa as a case of exceptional public service. “The long-term residency status is granted by the Minister of Justice to individuals who have made a special contribution to the Republic of Korea or promoted the public good,” the ministry said in a statement.
The wildfire, one of the worst in the region’s recent history, was fully extinguished after several days. Authorities are continuing damage assessments and discussions over compensation and prevention measures.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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