Choo Mi-ae apologises for fire-service budget remark at firefighter's funeral hall
In short
Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae apologised on October 17 for describing fire-service spending as a troublesome drain on provincial finances. Speaking after visiting a firefighter's funeral hall in Bucheon, she denied intending to disparage firefighters and said she had been explaining a funding problem.
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Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae apologised on October 17 for a remark comparing fire-service spending to a troublesome financial straw, saying she had not intended to disparage firefighters. She spoke after paying respects at the funeral hall of Kim Jin-seok (김진석), a firefighter who died after responding to a factory fire in Bucheon. Choo expressed regret if her words had been conveyed differently from her intention and said she apologised wholeheartedly. She acknowledged a mistake in expressing a structural funding problem while maintaining that she wanted to improve firefighters' treatment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
The controversy began during the National Assembly's audit of Gyeonggi Province on October 13, when Choo discussed provincial finances and the cost of nationally employed firefighters. She said at the funeral hall that national funding did not match the burden borne by the province and that she had requested additional support. Asked why she had not apologised at the fire scene the previous day, she said she had considered the setting inappropriate rather than refused to apologise. Yonhap reported that the bereaved family requested improvements in safety systems and investment in firefighter safety. Choo promised provincial arrangements for the funeral and support for the family. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok apologised to firefighters and the public on the party's behalf and said he had asked Choo for a sincere apology. The party's Gyeonggi organisation also issued an apology. Opposition criticism continued after Choo spoke: Hankook Ilbo reported that the People Power Party criticised the conditional wording and her subsequent explanations. Newsis reported that Democratic Party representatives promised to seek funding for personnel, equipment and improved working conditions during budget review. The firefighter's funeral was being held under provincial auspices, with a farewell ceremony scheduled for October 19. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 9 , 14 , 19 ]
Why it matters
The remark drew criticism from fire-service unions and opposition politicians, while Democratic Party leaders also apologised. The firefighter's family sought improvements to safety systems and investment, and Choo promised support for the bereaved.
Key facts
- Choo apologised after visiting the funeral hall of firefighter Kim Jin-seok (김진석) on October 17. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- The disputed remark was made during an October 13 parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 12 ]
- Choo said she had been discussing structural funding difficulties and denied intending to disparage firefighters. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok apologised on behalf of the party. [ 3 , 6 , 9 , 19 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The exact personnel-cost figure cited in Choo's explanation. Yonhap reports about 1.1 trillion won, while Newsis reports about 1.2 trillion won; both give national support of 80 billion won.