The 522nd episode of KBS 1TV's "Neighborhood Charles," airing on the 17th, reveals the story of Sugianto and Biki, Indonesian seafarers in Yeongdeok who rescued residents during the large wildfire that shook the North Gyeongsang Province last year.
The wildfire that began in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang, on Mar. 22, 2025, rode strong winds and, within three days, reached the seaside village of Yeongdeok 78 km away. Power went out and the fierce flames blocked land routes, leaving residents isolated. That night, we meet the Good Samaritans who risked their lives to rescue the residents.
In Gyeongjeong 3-ri at the tip of Yeongdeok lives Sugianto (32), a nine-year veteran snow crab fisherman. On weekdays he engages in snow crab fishing, and on weekends he helps the captain's mother sell snow crab. While selling snow crab to customers with his Nucksal-like charm, customers began to murmur. It was because they had seen Sugianto on the news. Earlier this year Sugianto even received a presidential citation, rising to fame in Gyeongjeong 3-ri. But his daily life continues unchanged.
After finishing his work, Sugianto visits the village hall. The elders all say they survived thanks to Sugianto and express their gratitude. One year ago, we revisit the tense situation that unfolded that day in Gyeongjeong 3-ri.
One year ago, on the night the wildfire engulfed the village, Sugianto ran through the steep alleys carrying seven elderly people who had difficulty moving and evacuated them to the breakwater. But as the flames grew fierce and land routes were cut off, Gyeongjeong 3-ri residents became trapped on the breakwater. With the sea route the only way out, Jun Dae-heon (53), the captain of Chuksan Port, and Biki, a three-year seafarer (25), from the neighboring village headed to Gyeongjeong 3-ri in a single boat. Piercing narrow channels and reef areas that even the Korea Coast Guard found hard to enter, the two dramatically rescued about 30 trapped residents. We hear the tense story from that day a year ago.
Biki, who has been working at Chuksan Port for three years, decided to come to Korea partly for economic reasons and partly because she wanted to experience seafaring work that was hard to encounter in Indonesia, so she chose to come to Korea on her own. She is gaining various experiences alongside Captain Jun Dae-heon, who leads the marine disaster rescue team.
After last year's wildfire rescue, Biki became a full-fledged rescue team member. She takes on tasks from towing disabled ships to participating in marine cleanup activities. "Korea is a place that lets me achieve dreams I couldn't fulfill in Indonesia," she said, and we follow Biki's daily life as she broadens her world day by day.
Broadcast at 7:40 p.m. on the 17th. <
[Photo] "Neighborhood Charles"
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