The National Fire Agency said on the 16th that it will hold the "111th class graduation ceremony for new firefighters" at the Central Fire Service Academy in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province.
A total of 240 new firefighters will be assigned to the field after completing 24 weeks and 797 hours of training. The average age of the 111th class is 29.5, and in addition to open competitive hiring, they were recruited through career-track competitions in various fields such as rescue, emergency medical services, and information and communications.
At the ceremony, Fire Sergeant Kim Se-jin, who achieved outstanding grades during the training period, received the Minister of the Interior and Safety award. Kim said, "So that the sweat we shed together over the past 24 weeks does not go to waste, I will become a warm and strong firefighter who takes the public's hand first in any emergency."
The 111th class graduates will serve at the Daegu Fire Safety Headquarters (102), Ulsan Fire Headquarters (32), North Jeolla Fire Headquarters (45), and the National 119 Rescue Headquarters (61), among others.
Kim Tae-han, head of the Central Fire Service Academy, said, "The sweat you shed at school will be the greatest strength to protect yourselves and the public at disaster scenes," and urged, "Engrave in your hearts your sense of duty as uniformed public officials and become a reliable pillar trusted by the public."