Fisherman from Indonesia named Sugianto was awarded an award by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for saving elderly people from a fire. Apart from receiving awards, his heroic actions also received a lot of praise.
Sugianto had the opportunity to meet the President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Korea, Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) on Thursday (2/4/2026). Prabowo was on a state visit at that time.
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Sugianto was honorably invited by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung when he hosted Prabowo and the delegation visiting South Korea. During the meeting, Prabowo showed a proud gesture towards Sugianto.
Equivalent to the distinguished invited guests, Sugianto wore a full suit and stood next to the South Korean President. Flanked by Prabowo and Lee, Sugianto had a chance to chat with Prabowo.
Prabowo greeted Sugianto, patting his back several times as a sign of pride. Before leaving Sugianto, Prabowo gave a short but meaningful message.
“You’re doing well, they’re happy with you,” said Prabowo proudly.
Sugianto Saves 7 Elderly People
Sugianto is loved by the South Korean people because he saved seven elderly people from a forest fire in Yeongdeok in March 2025. His heroic action made him known and admired by the people of South Korea and Indonesia.
At that time, Sugianto woke up the elderly who were asleep when the red rooster ravaged the forest and surrounding area. He carried the elderly one by one to a safer area.
This action received praise because he was considered a hero. This heroic action was rewarded with many awards. He received the Order of Civil Merit from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
He also received appreciation and awards from the Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI). And appointed as Ambassador of Indonesian Migrant Workers.
Apart from that, Sugianto also received an F-2 visa from the South Korean Ministry of Justice. The F-2 visa allows the holder to stay in South Korea for up to five years.
Fire Incident
Reported by Korea JoongAng Daily, a forest fire started in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang, South Korea, at around 11 pm on March 25 2025. Sugianto and the head of the village’s fishing community, Yoo Myung-sin, then knocked on the doors of neighboring houses and warned those who were resting to evacuate immediately.
The Indonesian fisherman arrived in South Korea about 9 years ago. The village is on the seashore, located in a sloping area making it difficult for the elderly to evacuate.
To ensure quick evacuation, Yoo and Sugianto carried their elderly neighbor on their backs. They then ran to the embankment about 300 meters from the residential area.
“All I thought about was saving the grandmothers and residents quickly,” said Sugianto.
He also told public broadcaster KBS that he helped about seven older adults evacuate from the Uiseong fire. The Indonesian fisherman said he did not remember how far he ran across the village with Yoo.
Seconds when the fire grows
Sugianto said he was frightened when he saw one of the shops engulfed in flames while carrying an old woman on his back. The woman woke up after hearing shouts of ‘Quick! Fast!’.
A Yeongdeok resident in his 90s said people might have died if not for the Indonesian fishermen.
“I was able to evacuate my house because he was at my door after I woke up hearing screams,” said the elderly resident.
He said his wife already knew the story of him helping the villagers. He said his wife was proud of his actions.
Village residents also praised Sugianto and Yoo for their heroism. Some said they would like to live and work with a responsible young man like him. The seaside village had about 60 residents who were all evacuated safely to the embankment when the Uiseong fire reached Yeongdeok.
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