Veteran firefighter couple balances life on the front lines and parenting

Firefighters Cho Yeong-jae and Jang Eun-ju navigate the challenges of high-stakes emergency response and childcare, with their three-shift work schedules allowing them to overlap for rest only once every three days.

There are those who bridge the intense gap between saving lives on the front lines of disasters and living as parents in a household. Cho Yeong-jae, a 15-year veteran firefighter, and Jang Eun-ju, a firefighter who recently returned to work, are the protagonists of this story. The daily lives of the couple, as presented by KBS 'Screening Humanity', capture a multi-dimensional view ranging from urgent scenes fighting flames to the exhaustion of childcare and the brief rest allowed only one day out of every three.

"Water Nozzle Leader is Destiny"... The Weight of a 15-Year Veteran at the Forefront

Cho Yeong-jae takes on the role of 'water nozzle leader,' standing at the very front line of a scene. It is a position that carries the destiny of taking risks, being the first to rush into scenes filled with flames, toxic gases, and flying glass shards. During a recent fire involving a pile of factory waste, he stood at the lead, focusing on initial suppression by separating flammable materials. After finishing the battle, which lasted 89 minutes, he prepares for the next dispatch without even a moment to relax.

Separate from his seriousness at the scene, he is also someone who brings laughter to his colleagues. Often serving as a role model for juniors with his witty demeanor, he believes physical strength is a core component of firefighting power and continues to perform strength training even during night shifts. His training, conducted under the conviction that "physical strength is firefighting power," is seen as an essential process for field activities.

"Jang Eun-ju, Not Yuna's Mother"... Finding Identity for a Returned Firefighter

Cho Yeong-jae's spouse, Jang Eun-ju, is also a 15-year veteran firefighter. Having returned to work about a month after completing parental leave, she is resuming her life as a firefighter by handling special vehicle operations at the scene. For Jang, returning to work carries more meaning than a simple return to the workplace. The moment colleagues call her by her name, "Manager Jang Eun-ju," rather than "Yuna's mother" or "Yujun's mother," she experiences reclaiming her identity as a firefighter.

Due to the nature of the three-shift work system for firefighters, the couple's days off overlap only once every three days. This precious rest time sometimes allows for "Jabu Time" (free time gained by leaving children with parents), but because they understand each other's work characteristics better than anyone, they sometimes spend their time separately, being considerate of each other's rest.

One Day Out of Three, Between 'Solo Parenting' and 'Tearful Farewells'

The profession of a firefighter creates a unique rhythm even within the home. Depending on the work schedule, one person leaves for the scene while the remaining person must endure 'solo parenting' to care for the children. On days when his wife goes to gatherings, Cho Yeong-jae finds his patience tested as he cares for the children alone. While he wants to be a sweet father amidst the push-and-pull with the children, the intersection of fatigue and the exhaustion of childcare is unavoidable.

In particular, the commute that comes about once every three days is like a "tearful farewell" with the children. As they open the door and head out, leaving the children behind to head back to high-tension scenes, the daily life of this firefighter couple appears to be a continuous process of balancing the weight of the reward of helping others with the deep affection for their family.

Source: original video (YouTube)