Eight officers named 'Hero Maritime Policemen'

S-Oil President Ryu Yeol, fourth from right, poses for a photo with awardees of this year's ″Hero Maritime Policemen″ at the award ceremony held in Mapo District, western Seoul, Thursday. [S-OIL]

Eight maritime officers were named "Hero Maritime Policemen" of 2022, Thursday.

S-Oil held an award ceremony for maritime officers of the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) at Seoul Garden Hotel in Mapo District, western Seoul, with co-host Korea National Council on Social Welfare.

Assistant Inspector Lim Sung-rock was given the top award.

In January this year, the 37-year-old maritime officer rescued three anglers stranded on a rock amid strong tides in Ulsan, by jumping into the water with a rope tied to him.

Senior Inspector Kim Soo-young in the aviation division of the Korea Coast Guard Region-Central and six other maritime officers were named awardees in recognition of their services.

The eight awardees received a total of 90 million won ($70,550) of prize money.

“Maritime officers, who take risks to save lives in difficult situations, are the real heroes,” said S-Oil President Ryu Yeol.

Jeong Bong-hoon, KCG commissioner general, handed commendations of the maritime commissioner to the eight awardees.

In 2013, S-Oil signed an agreement with the KCG and Korea National Council on Social Welfare to establish the “Hero Protector” program. Since then, the oil refiner has been providing financial support to maritime officers and their families for medical bills, school tuition and more.

Kospi-listed S-Oil is 63 percent owned by Saudi Arabia’s Aramco.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]