[Anchor]
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae apologized once again at a parliamentary audit over her previous remark that described the firefighting budget as a "straw" draining provincial finances. However, during the same audit, Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan made another controversial comment claiming firefighting "sucks municipal finances dry," prompting the party leadership to step in for damage control.
Reporter Choi Ho-won reports.
[Reporter]
After attending the funeral ceremony for the late firefighter Kim Jin-seok, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae moved to the National Assembly in the afternoon to undergo an audit by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee.
During the audit, lawmakers leveled sharp criticism over her so-called "straw" remark, which implied the firefighting budget burdens provincial finances, as well as the apology she offered while paying respects to the fallen firefighter.
[Kim Jong-yang / People Power Party Lawmaker: "Saying, 'I am apologizing because you told me to apologize'—does this make any sense? I consider this nothing less than secondary victimization and another reckless remark."]
Governor Choo repeatedly apologized.
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Province Governor: "I offer my sincere apologies to firefighters who were hurt by my remarks. I hold the dedication of firefighters in the highest regard."]
Gyeonggi Province also came under scrutiny for cutting 3.45 billion won from the firefighting budget in its supplementary budget proposal, including funds for replacing aging fire engines, reinforcing equipment, and holding memorial services for fallen firefighters.
Gyeonggi Province explained that a 5.7 billion won decrease in national government subsidies was the main factor, but controversy continues to grow as it came to light that Governor Choo had stressed the need to reinforce firefighting personnel and equipment during her time as party leader in 2017.
[Choo Mi-ae / Then-Democratic Party Leader (December 2017, Jecheon Fire Scene): "I think on-site responses must be properly reinforced with adequate (firefighting) personnel, and equipment reinforcement is also an urgent necessity."]
Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan sparked further controversy by defending Governor Choo while using a phrasing virtually identical to the "straw" analogy.
[Boo Seung-chan / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "Doesn't this (firefighting budget) truly suck local government finances dry? That is why simply criticizing this without resolving it at the national level provides no answers, doesn't it?"]
Lawmaker Boo refused requests from opposition lawmakers to apologize.
However, shortly after the audit concluded, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok issued a stern warning to Boo along with an order for an ex officio investigation.
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