[Anchor]
The firefighters' union held a press conference in front of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government building to demand a direct apology to firefighters from Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae regarding her controversial "firefighting financial straw" remarks. Governor Choo met with the union and bowed her head once again.
Reporter Kim Minjun has the details.
[Reporter]
[Is firefighting a financial straw? Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae, reflect sincerely!]
In front of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government building yesterday (October 20) afternoon.
The Fire Officials' Division of the Korean Government Employees' Union held a press conference, raising their voices to demand an official apology from Governor Choo Mi-ae, the author of the "financial straw" remark, stating that she "has not directly apologized to firefighters."
The union also urged Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan, who used a similar expression to Governor Choo during the parliamentary audit the day before yesterday, to state his position.
[Kwon Young-gak / Head of the Fire Officials' Division, Korean Government Employees' Union: An apology should be made officially to firefighters, not just to the media. Before the ink on Governor Choo's apology could even dry, Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan's reckless financial straw remark followed.]
Following the press conference, a meeting took place between Governor Choo and the firefighters' union.
Governor Choo had previously not expressed her stance regarding the "financial straw" remark made on the very day Fire Inspector Kim Jin-seok died in a factory fire in Bucheon.
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Governor (October 16, the day of the Bucheon fire): (Governor, firefighting unions are protesting because of the financial straw remark...) Do not talk about such things.]
Saying that she was unable to fully express what was in her heart at the time, she bowed her head once again.
[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Governor: The media took issue with those remarks at the site, and I was unable to fully convey what was in my heart, but I want to say that I am truly sorry if it caused you pain once again.]
During opening remarks, the union expressed gratitude for Governor Choo's apology, and during the meeting which lasted about 40 minutes, they requested the formation of a fact-finding investigation team for the Bucheon fire involving bereaved families and experts, as well as the expansion of the firefighting budget.
(Video by: Chang Woon-seok, Video Editing by: Nam Il)
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