[Anchor]
Criticism has mounted after it was belatedly revealed that on Sunday night (October 18), the vehicle used by Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok to visit the memorial altar of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty, was parked in a designated emergency patient parking area. Representative Kim Tae-seon, the owner of the vehicle and chief of staff to Leader Kim, apologized, stating that it was a mistake with no room for excuses.
Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon reports.
[Reporter]
At a hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, where the memorial altar was set up for the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died while fighting a fire.
Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok and his chief of staff, Representative Kim Tae-seon, who visited the hospital on Sunday night to pay their respects, step out of the vehicle they rode together.
[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader (Sunday) : "As someone working for the state, I feel like a sinner regarding such a sacrifice."]
The two left after paying their condolences for about 30 minutes, but it later came to light that the vehicle they arrived in was parked in the hospital's "emergency patient dedicated parking zone."
Criticism arose questioning whether it was special treatment, as even admitted patients are not allowed to park there. Representative Kim Tae-seon posted on social media yesterday, saying, "The vehicle parked in the dedicated parking zone is my office vehicle," adding, "It is my own fault with no room for excuses under any reason, and I sincerely apologize."
The Democratic Party also apologized, stating that although the vehicle had been parked in the area following guidance from hospital staff, they failed to adhere to principles regardless of the reason.
Regarding the controversy over Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae's remarks about "a straw on fire service finances," the Democratic Party stated it would speed up institutional improvements to foster better working conditions for firefighters.
[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader : "We will take the lead in preparing effective recurrence prevention measures, overhauling fire service-related systems, and securing budgets."]
However, the party did not express a clear position regarding demands from some party members for disciplinary action against Governor Choo.
The People Power Party continued its offensive, alleging that Governor Choo slashed fire service-related budgets while replacing her official residence and vehicle.
[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader : "The key money deposit alone for the 47-pyeong apartment she moved into as her official residence is 1.2 billion won. Governor Choo Mi-ae herself is the fiscal straw."]
Targeting Leader Kim, the party demanded that he clarify whether he was aware that the vehicle was parked in the emergency patient parking zone.
(Video by Park Seon-soo | Graphics by Jang Seong-beom | Footage courtesy of Newsis)
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