Choo Mi-ae: 'Strengthening State Responsibility for Firefighting Finances Is Most Important'

▲ Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae

Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae stated on October 26, "To properly respond to firefighting demands and fundamentally improve the safety and treatment of firefighters, it is most important to strengthen the state's responsibility for firefighting finances."

Emphasizing this during the second monthly meeting of the 9th popular election term held at the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office yesterday, Governor Choo explained, "Although the status of firefighters has been converted to national civil servants, the financial burden remains concentrated on local governments, and national funding is actually decreasing."

In the wake of the Bucheon fire, Gyeonggi Province has formed a task force (TF) to comprehensively inspect everything from fire prevention in hazardous facilities to on-site safety and welfare improvements for firefighters.

Led by the First Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs, the task force includes participation from 31 cities and counties, the fire department, the police, and related organizations, and will hold its first meeting on October 27.

Governor Choo said, "We will directly incorporate the voices of on-site firefighters, labor unions, and external experts to discover practical tasks and formulate comprehensive measures by December," and ordered, "First, thoroughly investigate the cause and suppression process of this Bucheon fire."

She added, "We will comprehensively inspect and improve everything from the criteria for assessing risks during firefighting operations to the procedures for deploying and withdrawing firefighters, on-site command, and safety management. In addition, we will conduct a joint fact-finding survey on working conditions and treatment, including whether there are shortages of firefighting equipment and specialized personnel."

Last year, the number of fires in Gyeonggi Province totaled 7,708, among which 733 were factory fires.

From 2022 to 2025, there were 3,094 factory fires in the Gyeonggi region, resulting in 36 fatalities.

During the monthly meeting, which was broadcast live on its YouTube channel, Gyeonggi Province received reports on inspections related to large logistics warehouse fires, artificial intelligence (AI) administrative innovation, the reopening of Jangam Station, and youth growth projects.

Regarding AI administrative innovation, Governor Choo expressed frustration, saying, "No matter how much we emphasize Gyeonggi Province's fiscal crisis, people do not try to look into the reality, but instead throw it into a frame as a political dispute and fail to look closely." She requested, "To properly communicate the situation of Gyeonggi Province, please increase the accuracy of tax revenue projections."

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