Seoul Nurse's 15 Years of Training Saves Subway Passenger

When a stranger collapsed on her evening commute, Seo Hyewon didn't freeze or wait for someone else to help. The Seoul St. Mary's Hospital nurse made her way through panicked passengers and did what she'd trained 15 years to do.

On October 1, Seo was heading home on Seoul Subway Line 7 when a man in his 60s lost consciousness near Gunja Station. Other passengers had already started first aid, but something didn't look right to Seo.

She quickly assessed the situation and made a critical call. The man was having a full-body seizure, and well-meaning passengers weren't helping the right way.

Seo asked someone to call emergency services, then gently stopped the other helpers and turned the patient's head to the side. This simple move kept his airway clear and could have prevented choking.

The seizure stopped, but the danger wasn't over. When the man's pulse weakened and his breathing became irregular gasps, Seo recognized the warning signs immediately and began CPR.

By the time the train reached the next stop at Junggok Station, passengers helped move the man onto the platform. Seo stayed with him, monitoring every breath and heartbeat until paramedics arrived.

The man regained consciousness before the ambulance came. He was transported to a nearby hospital, alive because someone knew exactly what to do.

Seo has spent years caring for critically ill patients in a hematology ward. She'd even saved another life performing CPR at her own hospital after transferring to outpatient care.

"The person who collapsed is someone's neighbor and family member, too," Seo said. "All I could think was that I had to save him."

Why This Inspires

Seo credits her hospital's yearly CPR training for her calm response. Those regular drills turned panic into precision when seconds counted.

Her advice for bystanders is simple but vital. Always call emergency services first, and don't be afraid to point to a specific person and ask them directly.

For seizures, she warns against common mistakes. Never put your hand in someone's mouth during a seizure because you could get hurt. Just turn their head to the side to keep their airway open.

The story only came to light because Oh Hyesung, a Seoul Metro employee who witnessed everything, contacted the hospital. "Even in that sudden and urgent situation, the nurse calmly assessed the patient's condition and took the necessary steps one by one," Oh said.

Lee Jiyeol, president of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, praised Seo's professionalism. "We will continue providing training and support so that our staff can confidently step forward to protect lives wherever they are."

Somewhere in Seoul, a man in his 60s is alive today because someone on his train car knew CPR and wasn't afraid to use it.