On June 8, 2016, Deacon Jungkyu Kang (Parish 5) and Deacon Wanseop Sim (Parish 12) of Golden Asset Management Corp. received Civilian Gallantry Award because they saved the express bus driver on their way to Daegu for a business trip.


On May 31, 2016, it was around 6 P.M. We were on the way to Daegu for a business trip. By the time we had almost reached Sangju City in Kyeongbuk Province through Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway, we saw dark smoke in the distance, maybe around 500m. An express bus's rear part was on fire since it had collided with a big trailer.

We stopped our car and tried to put out fire with the fire extinguisher in the trunk, but it was out of control. The fire made dark and thick smoke. We stopped the cars coming up from behind to prevent more accidents. The bus driver was unable to get out of it because the front part of the bus was so dented backward and his legs were stuck in the crushed parts.

A wrecker vehicle came upon the report of accident. We tied a metal chain to the bus' steering wheel and pulled it from outside to make space for the driver. Right then, we felt that we could no longer spend time there. And we ran into the bus.

The driver was almost unconscious covered with blood. And a young woman was administering first aid to him. We took his both legs slowly and carefully from the dented parts and tried to move him out of the bus together.

The fire looked unusual. Some police officers arrived. Helping them we made the bus passengers and the towing vehicle parked next to the bus move farther away from the bus. The fire became more serious and was spread to the whole thing. The windows were broken and the shards of glass were flying towards the cars in the opposite direction. We stopped those cars too. A few minutes later the bus was burnt to ashes in the great fire. This accident caused the cars in both directions to stop for around an hour.

Then, 119 rescue cars arrived. After we saw the injured and the passengers get in the cars, we left for Daegu again. When we saw the fire coming up from the bus, we both wanted to stop and help. It was because we have learned goodness and duty of man from Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee. We realized it again and felt so thankful.

We thought only about saving the driver when we ran into the car on fire. It was possible because we had seen our shepherd sacrifice himself without sparing anything for the kingdom of God and his flock. And it was because we had heard so many testimonies in which Manmin members were protected even in many kinds of accidents. What was really amazing was we did not smell nor feel any toxic gasses although the bus was on fire. We did not suffer from any aftereffects.

We thought about the good Samaritan. He could not pass by a man who fell into the robbers' hands and helped him. We give thanks to Senior Pastor who has taught us to practice goodness like the Samaritan through the teaching of the word of life (Luke 10:30-37). I give all thanks and glory to God who blesses us to experience the power of God in this church and live with no worries and with hope for Heaven.