[Anchor]
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae has become engulfed in fierce controversy after describing the firefighting budget as a "troublesome fiscal straw." At the scene of a fire in Bucheon where firefighters were injured, Governor Choo avoided answering questions regarding the remark, while President Lee Jae-myung said, "Compared to dedicating their lives at the risk of death, would any amount of fortune be a waste?"
Reporter Kim Jin-u has the details.
[Reporter]
Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae canceled her scheduled itinerary and visited the scene of a fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, where firefighters were injured.
Although she wished for the quick recovery of the injured firefighters,
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Governor: I am truly grateful to the firefighters for their courage and dedication.]
the firefighters did not even make eye contact, and some turned their backs.
When a reporter asked a question regarding the "fiscal straw" remark, Governor Choo waved her hands and refused to answer.
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Governor: (Governor, firefighter unions are protesting over the "fiscal straw" remark...) Don't talk about that.]
During the parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province on October 13, Governor Choo agreed with an opposition lawmaker's point that "the proportion of state funding for firefighting finances should be increased," stating as follows:
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Governor (Parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province, October 13): Firefighting seems to be the biggest, most troublesome fiscal straw. Personnel costs alone will eat up 1.1 trillion won in 2027.]
The day after this remark was made, the firefighting division of the Korean Government Employees' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions demanded an apology from Governor Choo, calling it an "insulting act" that defamed the honor of 70,000 firefighting civil servants nationwide, while the firefighter labor union under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions also expressed regret, stating that firefighting is not a straw that drains someone's pockets.
Gyeonggi Province explained that Governor Choo's remark was "intended to emphasize that local governments bear most of the financial burden even though firefighters were transitioned to national civil servant status."
Following the Bucheon fire incident, the firefighting division of the Korean Government Employees' Union issued another statement demanding Governor Choo "apologize on bended knees," and the People Power Party also criticized her remarks for devaluing the dedication of firefighters.
Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung expressed sympathy for the injured firefighters at the opening ceremony of the National Sports Festival held in Jeju yesterday (October 16), saying:
[President Lee Jae-myung: Compared to dedicating themselves by risking their lives for the lives and safety of the people, would even a thousand pieces of gold given to them be a waste?]
The Democratic Party released a commentary stating, "We offer our sincere apologies to the firefighting civil servants and their families who were hurt by the expression used by Governor Choo."
Video by Lee Seung-jin
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