[Anchor]
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae also paid her respects today (October 17) at the memorial altar for a fallen firefighter. She apologized four days after sparking controversy by referring to the fire service as a "fiscal straw." However, renewed criticism erupted from the opposition over Governor Choo's remark that she was apologizing "since you wish for an apology."
Reporter Park Yerim has the details.
[Reporter]
Firefighter union members block and protest against Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae as she visits the memorial altar of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty during a factory fire in Bucheon.
["Apologize. You did not come here with sincerity right now, did you? You came to take photos, right? Just to take photos. Just for show."]
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Province Governor: "Yes, I apologize." ("Are you apologizing? Clearly?") "Yes."]
On October 13, Governor Choo drew strong backlash from firefighters during the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee audit of Gyeonggi Province by likening the fire service budget to a "fiscal straw."
Emerging after paying her respects for about an hour, Governor Choo apologized for her remarks and said the following:
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Province Governor: "If it was conveyed differently from my intention, I express deep regret, and since you wish for an apology, I truly offer an apology with all my heart."]
She then explained that the remark was a slip of the tongue that occurred while pointing out that although firefighters were transitioned to national civil servant status, local government finances still bear most of their personnel costs.
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Province Governor: "I also admit that it was a slip of the tongue made while addressing structural fiscal problems. However, I had no intention whatsoever to disparage firefighters, and that remains true now."]
Prior to this, Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok stated that he apologized to firefighters and the public, adding that he had requested Governor Choo to issue an apology as well.
[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader: "I offer a deep apology on behalf of the party. I have also requested a deeply reflective apology from the person involved."]
The People Power Party criticized Governor Choo's wording, calling it an arrogant apology uttered reluctantly only after being pressured.
[Choi Soo-jin / Senior Floor Spokesperson, People Power Party: "She used the wording 'since you wish for an apology.' I was shocked. Who is wishing for an apology? She is the one who ought to apologize."]
The party further lashed out at Governor Choo for repeatedly bringing up fiscal issues immediately after apologizing, saying, "She used even the memorial altar as a stage for excuses," and asking, "Was her political face what really mattered?"
(Video by Lee Chan-soo and Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Won Hyeong-hee)
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