The funeral of Captain Park Hyun-woo (73), who died in a helicopter crash while battling a forest fire, was held in tears on the 29th.
About 20 family members and friends of Captain Park held the funeral service at the New Goryeo Funeral Hall in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. They completed the final preparations to say goodbye to the deceased by holding a farewell prayer at the funeral hall.
Captain Park's body was placed in a coffin draped with the national flag. As the coffin was carried out from the resting place to the hearse, the family members silently wept. Captain Park's son, holding a portrait of his father, bowed his head in silence but ultimately could not lift it, crying uncontrollably.
His wife, Jang Kwang-ja (71), said, "You have worked hard to take care of the family, and I love you. I will always remember and be grateful for our time together, so let’s meet in heaven." Shin Sang-bum (73), a close friend of the deceased for 30 years, noted, "The deceased, who was like an icon of sincerity, climbed aboard the helicopter even at the risk of danger on the smoky site of the forest fire. I hope he rests in peace."
Captain Park died on the 26th at around 12:51 p.m. when a helicopter crashed while conducting aerial firefighting operations at a forest fire site in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk. The helicopter, produced in 1995, is reported to have crashed after hitting a utility pole at the fire site. He has been recognized as a fallen hero who died in the line of duty and is to be laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has formed an accident investigation committee and is retrieving the helicopter's black box to investigate the exact cause of the accident.