● S-OIL named 16 hidden “hero neighbors,” including Kwon Soon-joong (46), who put out fire at a subway station, and granted prize money.
● The refiner honored the noble spirit of sacrifice of ordinary citizens who showed great bravery in helping people in danger.  

Case 1) An appalling accident, which raises the memory of the Daegu subway tragedy, took place in a train on Subway Line 3 passing through Maebong Station in May of this year. An arsonist set fire to a bag containing thinners and butane inside the train. Fortunately, station employee Kwon Soon-joong (46) was on the same train. He requested a passenger to call 119, promptly picked up a fire extinguisher, and put out the blazing fire and prevented massive human casualties. Kwon said, “I thought that everyone would die and that we could only live if I put out the fire.” He humbly added, “It was only with the help of other citizens who kept bringing me fire extinguishers that I managed to prevent a huge tragedy.”

Case 2) Park Ji-hyun (16) and Han Su-ji (16), who were close friends at high school, discovered an old lady who had fallen down on the other side of a bus station in August of this year. The two students called 119 immediately and according to the 119 operator’s instructions on the cell phone, they administered first aid, opening her airway by tilting her head back, and saved her life. Park Ji-hyun said, “When we found the old lady, we couldn’t just pass by.” She added shyly, “It was the first emergency treatment I had ever given, but I tried to do it calmly following the operator’s instruction.   

A meaningful ceremony was held with the aim of encouraging such hidden heroes who save lives by helping their neighbors in danger.

S-OIL Corporation held the “2014 Hero Neighbors Award” ceremony at its Head Office in Gongdeok-dong, Mapo, Seoul on Dec. 11. It singled out 16 hero citizens who demonstrated the righteous spirit of sacrifice to help fellow citizens in danger and awarded 140 mil. won. The ceremony was attended by S-OIL CEO Nasser Al-Mahasher, Korea National Council on Social Welfare Chairman Cha Heung-bong, and about 60 award winners and their families. 

At the ceremony, the company presented trophies and award money to brave citizens who showed great courage in dangerous situations. The list includes Kim Min-su (36), who saved a child being attacked by an abandoned dog, Kim Chung-seong (34), who jumped into the sea to save a drowning child, Nam Gung-yun (36) who saved a driver trapped in a burning car at the brink of explosion, and Lee Dae-sik (46), who seized a murder suspect holding a deadly weapon after a hand-to-hand fight. 

“Citizens who come forward to help people in danger are the real heroes of our society,” said S-OIL CEO Nasser Al-Mahasher. “We promise that S-OIL will continue to remain a solid companion for brave neighbors through our Hero Neighbors Support Program.” 

S-OIL has held the 2014 Hero Neighbors Award ceremony since 2008 in order to encourage and support those who save others from danger with their brave civic spirit.