On March 28, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, shaking even distant areas like downtown Bangkok, Thailand. The tremors caused structural damage to several high-rise condominiums, including the partial collapse of connecting sky bridges. Amid the chaos, Korean national Yongjun Kwon was captured risking his life as he crossed a collapsed sky bridge on the 52nd floor to reach his family—an act that quickly went viral in local media.
Following the incident, Thai media dubbed Kwon the “Nation’s Husband.” Recently, he shared his testimony in detail on Pastor Kwangjong Ko’s YouTube channel, Tamini Note, affiliated with Incheon Seongsan Church. “In the moment of the earthquake, God’s protection and the promises of the gospel gave me the strength to act,” he testified.
Kwon recalled the morning of the quake: “It started out like any other day—I had my morning coffee and headed to the gym, crossing the sky bridge as usual.” While exercising, just after completing a set of lat pulldowns, he said, “A deafening noise came from above, and the gym floor shook violently.” Instantly, thoughts of his family flashed through his mind. He grabbed his protein shake and phone and rushed out.
“When I got outside, I saw the water in the pool splashing everywhere. The buildings were swaying from side to side,” he said. “My eyes locked on the entrance of Building B. I instinctively knew I had to get across.” As he ran and leapt across the broken bridge, Kwon said it felt as if “someone was pushing me from behind with incredible force.” He later found out that this was the exact section where the sky bridge had collapsed and reconnected.
While descending the stairs of Building B, Kwon said the gospel’s promises flooded his heart. “Genesis 28:15 came to mind: ‘I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.’ I also remembered the teachings I had heard about imputed righteousness, covering righteousness, judicial righteousness, and declarative righteousness.”
Even as fear of a building collapse loomed, Kwon said he felt peace. “The gospel came to mind, and with it came calm. I thought, even if I die, I die having heard the gospel. I have the assurance of eternal life, so I am not afraid of death.”
But as he kept going down, a stronger desire to see his family pushed him forward. “I thought, ‘What if my death becomes a stumbling block that keeps my wife and family from hearing the gospel?’ So I prayed, ‘Let me live to lead them to the gospel.’”
Even while the building was shaking violently, he held onto his faith: “Just as God promised Jacob He would never leave him, I believed He would fulfill that promise for me, too. That gave me the will to keep going.”
Eventually, his energy drained, and Kwon said he had to roll down the final steps like in a fall-break technique. When he reached the first floor, foreigners warned him not to go outside, saying the high ceiling posed a danger. But believing his family was outside, he didn’t hesitate to run out.
Upon reuniting with his wife and daughter, he was overwhelmed. “The moment I saw them safe, I was flooded with unspeakable gratitude and relief.” Kwon later learned that during the quake, his wife had collapsed in fear and was crying, when a mysterious neighbor appeared and guided her to safety. “I don’t know where that person came from, but I believe that was an angel sent at the right moment.”
Reflecting on the experience, Kwon concluded, “The only reason I could feel peace during such a disaster was because I believe in the God who promised Jacob, ‘I will not leave you.’ I’m thankful to Pastor Kwangjong Ko, whose teachings helped me understand and hold onto the promises of the gospel.”
*This article is a translated and polished version of Christian Today.
