Two miners who were trapped in a zinc mine for nine days in Bonghwa-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, are safely escorted out of the mine on Nov. 4 at 11:03 p.m. by rescue workers. (National Fire Agency)
By Yoo Yeon Gyeong
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 5 thanked and expressed his wishes for a quick recovery to two miners who were rescued after being trapped in a zinc mine for nine days in Bonghwa-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Cheon Hyo-jeong on Nov. 6 said in a written media briefing that the chief executive sent his industrial policy secretary Kang Kyeong-seong to give his gifts to the rescued miners at the hospital with a card saying, “You gave new hope to a saddened Republic of Korea, and I wish you a speedy recovery.”
Upon receiving the message and gifts from the secretary, the two miners were quoted as saying, “We heard from our families that the president ordered our active rescue several times,” adding, “We thank the president.”
“We sincerely thank you for directly sending your secretary to comfort and encourage us.”
On Oct. 26, both miners were trapped after the underground tunnel collapsed inside the mine they were working in. They were saved by rescue workers nine days later on Nov. 4 at 11:03 p.m. at a point 295 m underground.
Identified as a team leader, Park Jeong-ha, 62, and his assistant known only as Park, 56, the two men were dramatically rescued after surviving for 221 hours by drinking water falling from the shaft’s ceiling and instant coffee powder.
dusrud21@korea.kr
