Lee pays respect to policeman killed while trying to rescue citizen from flood waters

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak paid his respect Friday to a young conscripted policeman who was killed while trying to rescue a citizen from a stream swollen in this week's torrential rains.

Lee offered flowers and a moment of silence before the funeral photo of the 21-year-old policeman, Cho Min-soo, who was found dead Thursday after being swept away in flood waters in Dongducheon, north of Seoul, the previous day.

The funeral hall was set up at the National Police Hospital in southern Seoul.

Lee offered condolences to family members of the deceased and wrote in a guest book, "All of us won't forget your precious sacrifice for a long time."

Lee Kang-deok, head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, said the agency plans to posthumously name Cho an honorary police officer in consideration of Cho's wish to become a career officer.

Later in the day, Lee visited flood-stricken regions in Gwangju, south of Seoul, to comfort victims.

"I have lived in Seoul for 53 years, but I've never seen a heavy rainfall like this before," Lee said during a visit to a flood-hit factory. "Though we were hit by unprecedented downpours, we should join hands for recovery efforts."

During a visit to a rehabilitation center for the disabled, Lee took part in cleanup efforts, sweeping muddy flood waters from the facilities.