Photo: screenshot from video published by Zhangjiajie Daily

South Korean Consulate General in Wuhan recently sent a letter to the city of Zhangjiajie in Central China's Hunan Province, expressing its highest respect for a bus driver who demonstrated exceptional professionalism by executing emergency measures to protect South Korean tourists in the coach at a critical moment before losing consciousness. The letter extended deep condolences to the driver's bereaved family, reported the Zhangjiajie Daily on Thursday.

The consulate stated that it learned of the incident, during which 11 South Korean tourists narrowly escaped harm in Zhangjiajie, a popular tourist destination, through local reports by the Zhangjiajie Daily, which was also covered by major South Korean TV networks and newspapers.

According to the newspaper, on the evening of June 29, Xiao Bo - the bus driver who was also a military veteran - was transporting 11 South Korean tourists and a guide back to Zhangjiajie. As the vehicle approached the viaduct on the Zhangnan Expressway in Yongshun county, Xiao suddenly fell critically ill. In his final moments before losing consciousness, he mustered extraordinary resolve to pull up, engage the handbrake and secure the vehicle, ensuring the safety of the passengers onboard. Despite three days of intensive medical efforts, Xiao succumbed to a brainstem hemorrhage and passed away on July 2. 

Xiao was posthumously honored as "Zhangjiajie Good Samaritan" by the city government, and his deed has drawn widespread acclaim. 

The report also noted that the letter from the consulate specifically acknowledged a local travel service company and its representative Kim Sung-joon for their consistent dedication to ensuring the safety of South Korean tourists, and a tour guide Kim Kwang-il, who acted swiftly and decisively on-site to prevent a major casualty accident.

The letter praised their professionalism as exemplifying transnational respect for life, attributing such standards to Zhangjiajie's longstanding emphasis on tourist safety. The consulate reaffirmed its commitment to close cooperation with Zhangjiajie authorities to enhance safety measures for South Korean visitors.

Global Times