Firefighter Na Kyung-jin has posted a video honoring Kim Jin-seok, who died fighting a factory fire in Bucheon. Firefighter Na Kyung-jin serves at Jincheon Fire Station in North Chungcheong Province. Na Kyung-jin runs the YouTube channel “Firefighter Uncle.” At 6 p.m. on October 20, Na Kyung-jin uploaded the 1-minute, 8-second video “Straw” to the channel. The video has no spoken dialogue or explanation.

It opens with a yellow straw in a glass of water. Na Kyung-jin appears in the video wearing a mourning ribbon and carrying a white chrysanthemum. Na removes the straw, puts the flower in its place and leaves the frame. A message mourning Kim appears on a black screen at the end, accompanied by part of the firefighters’ song “Hunsi.” Written by Bang Sang-cheon and composed by Kang Su-a, the song reflects on colleagues who died in the line of duty and a commitment by surviving firefighters to carry on their work. In the video description, Na honored Kim for carrying out his duty to protect lives and safety at the fire. Na also wished for the swift recovery of fellow firefighters who worked at the scene.

Kim died on October 16 while fighting a fire at a metal injection and printing factory in Bucheon’s Ojeong district. Eight other people, including firefighters and factory personnel, suffered moderate to serious injuries. His funeral was held at Bucheon Gymnasium on October 19 as a Gyeonggi provincial government ceremony. By 2 p.m. on October 22, Na’s video had surpassed 660,000 views and 3,400 comments.

Some interpreted the straw as a reference to an earlier remark by Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae. At an October 13 National Assembly audit, Choo described firefighting as a major burden on provincial finances and used the word “straw,” drawing controversy. Na did not name Choo or anyone else in the video.

At Kim’s memorial on October 17, Choo addressed her earlier remark by saying, in effect, that she would apologize to those who wanted an apology. The wording drew questions about the sincerity of her apology. Choo apologized again at an October 19 provincial audit and an October 20 meeting with fire service union representatives, saying she was sorry if her words had caused hurt. Since November 2021, Na Kyung-jin has made videos conveying fire and safety information through costumes, memes and music.