Apology Four Days After 'Fiscal Straw' Remark... PPP Calls It "Arrogant Apology"

[Anchor]

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae also visited the memorial altar of a fallen firefighter today (October 17) to pay her respects. She apologized four days after her remark comparing the fire service organization to a "fiscal straw." However, the opposition bloc once again unleashed criticism over Governor Choo's remark that "Since you want an apology, I apologize."

Reporter Park Ye-rin reports.

[Reporter]

Firefighter union members block and protest against Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae as she visits the memorial altar for the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty during a factory fire in Bucheon.

["Please apologize. You didn't come here with sincerity right now, did you? You came to take photos, didn't you? To take photos. Just for show."]

[Choo Mi-ae / Governor of Gyeonggi Province: Yes, I apologize. (Are you apologizing? Clearly?) Yes.]

On October 13, Governor Choo drew backlash from firefighters after likening the fire service budget to a "fiscal straw" during the parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee.

Governor Choo, emerging after paying her respects for about an hour, apologized for her remark and said:

[Choo Mi-ae / Governor of Gyeonggi Province: If it was conveyed differently from my intention, I express my deep regret, and since you want an apology, I sincerely apologize with all my heart.]

She then explained that the remark was a slip of the tongue that occurred while trying to point out the issue that although firefighters have been transitioned to national public servants, most of their personnel expenses are still borne by local finances.

[Choo Mi-ae / Governor of Gyeonggi Province: I also acknowledge that it was a slip of the tongue that occurred while discussing structural fiscal problems. However, I had no intention at all of disparaging firefighters, and that remains the same even now.]

Prior to this, Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok stated that he apologized to firefighters and the public, adding that he had also asked Governor Choo to apologize.

[Kim Min-seok / Leader of the Democratic Party: On behalf of the party, I offer my deep apologies. I have also requested a deeply self-reflective apology from the person involved.]

The People Power Party criticized Governor Choo's phrasing, calling it an arrogant apology reluctantly blurted out only after being pushed.

[Choi Soo-jin / Senior Floor Spokesperson of the People Power Party: She used the wording, "Since you want an apology." I was shocked. Who is asking for an apology? It is she who should be offering an apology.]

The spokesperson also lashed out at Governor Choo for repeatedly bringing up the fiscal issue immediately after apologizing, saying, "She turned even the memorial altar into a stage for excuses," and asking, "Was what truly mattered your political saving of face?"

(Video by Lee Chan-soo, Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Won Hyung-hee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.