The SBS entertainment program 'Kkokkomu' moved viewers to tears as it covered the 'Chun-An Elementary School soccer team's dormitory fire incident' that occurred in 2003. The dreams and stories of elementary school children consumed by the flames were revealed, stirring emotions of sadness and inspiration.

The 168th episode of 'A story that tails another' (directed by Lee Geunbyeol, Lee Dongwon, Go Hyelin, hereafter 'Kkokkomu'), which aired on the 27th, featured various stories about dreams, focusing on the 'Chun-An Elementary School soccer team's dormitory fire incident,' with singer Baek Jiyoung, actor Park Byeong-eun, and Tomorrow X Together leader Soobin as grants.

The incident began in Chun-An, where the prestigious Chun-An Elementary School soccer team was heated up after the 2002 World Cup. The World Cup kids, similar in age to Son Heung-min, showcased the soccer enthusiasm as 11 more joined the Chun-An Elementary School soccer team in 2003 than in a typical year. Twenty-five elementary school students lived together in a dormitory of about 30 pyeong next to the soccer field, cultivating their dreams of becoming soccer players.

Among them was Cheonmyeong, who transferred to Chun-An Elementary School because he had Park Ji-sung as a role model; Min-soo, who joined the soccer team following his brother with hopes of becoming a national representative; and Jang-ho, a sixth grader who was accepted into the soccer team thanks to his mother, who insisted on paying the 300,000 won admission fee despite earning only 600,000 won a month, thinking that she'd manage meals at work.

However, tragedy struck on the night of March 2003, after the children had fallen into a deep sleep following an away game. As Jang-ho stepped out to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, a sudden loud noise echoed through the dormitory, which quickly ignited. In an instant, Jang-ho's face and body caught fire, and he collapsed unconscious without escaping. Only five children managed to escape the building, while 20 children could not get out of the dormitory.

At that time, the dormitory was a single-story brick house with a slate roof, and the ceiling insulation was made of Styrofoam and plywood, which made it catch fire quickly and released a large amount of toxic gas. There was only one escape route, a window, but it was blocked by security bars, making it impossible to escape. In response, the children demonstrated ingenuity, breaking through a ventilation fan, and the older kids evacuated the younger, smaller ones first. However, eight children, including sixth graders who could not escape the building while helping their younger siblings, died in the fire.

Among the children sent to the hospital, the final toll of the incident was nine deaths, and the lives of the other children were also in critical condition. The survivors expressed their feelings, saying, "I felt ashamed and overwhelmed with sadness, despair, and guilt." Jang-ho, who lost consciousness at the scene, was the last remaining survivor in the hospital, receiving intensive care for third-degree burns covering 40% of his body. Reflecting on the incident, Jang-ho's mother tearfully shared, "I could only think that if I could save him, I would rather die myself." Jang-ho underwent ten major surgeries over the span of a year, overcoming near-death experiences multiple times. When a video showing Jang-ho lying in a hospital bed, burnt to the point of being unrecognizable, was released, Baek Jiyoung broke down in tears, and Park Byeong-eun also became emotional.

The cause of the accident was revealed to be electrical short-circuiting. However, it sparked outrage as it was revealed that there had been three chances to protect the children. It was found that false documents had been created without inspection of the dormitory for ten years after its establishment. Also, four years before the incident, the Sea Land fire disaster claimed the lives of 23 kindergarteners among youths, which led to the establishment of fire prevention regulations, but dormitories were excluded from this regulation. Lastly, it was revealed that just three months before the incident, there had been a near-fire at the same dormitory, but there were no measures taken after all had safely evacuated. Nevertheless, despite being a tragedy with 25 casualties, it was not well-known even among the citizens of Chun-An due to the recent Daegu subway fire incident. After the accident, all those responsible faced punishment, but the elementary school children could not regain their dreams.

The reason that 13-year-old Jang-ho was able to endure such difficult times was due to his dream of soccer. Soobin from Tomorrow X Together remarked, "If it were me, I would have fallen apart endlessly. It's admirable and respectable that he could endure through his passion for his dream." Standing in front of the camera was Yoon Jang-ho, now a young man resembling Son Heung-min's age. After gradually recovering his health, Jang-ho ran onto the soccer field, only to realize that he could no longer play soccer due to shortness of breath, leg pain, and having lost three toes.

After the incident, dormitories in elementary schools across the country were closed, and Chun-An Elementary School abolished its soccer team, preventing children from playing soccer anymore. However, the bereaved families thought that keeping the children's dreams alive is what the deceased children would want. They proposed the reestablishment of the soccer team, providing soccer equipment and sponsorship funds, and with various efforts combined, the Chun-An Elementary School soccer team was re-founded. The emblem of the current Chun-An Elementary School soccer team features nine stars, symbolizing the nine children who became stars in the sky. The last survivor, Yoon Jang-ho, tearfully conveyed to his friends who left this world, "Let's meet again later and play soccer in a place without pain. I'm doing well."

On that day, Soobin remarked, "It's the first time I'm hearing about this incident, and I didn't know there was such a heartbreaking story," while Baek Jiyoung said, "Delivering messages through events that are not well-known is possibly a great reward for those who have suffered." Following this, Jang Hyun-sung, Jang Seong-kyu, and Jang Doyoun expressed, "Shouldn't we pay more attention to the lives of survivors?" leaving a deep impression.

'Kkokkomu' is a program where three 'storytellers' study and share their insights with their 'story friends' one-on-one in the most everyday spaces, airing every Thursday night at 10:20 p.m. on SBS.

[Photo] Kkokkomu

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