Repeated Apology, but Gyeonggi's 3.4 Billion Won Cut to Fire Budget Comes Under Fire

[Anchor]

Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae, who sparked controversy with her remark about a "firefighting financial straw," issued another apology today (19th). However, this time, Gyeonggi Province's reduction of the firefighting budget by over 3 billion won came under heavy fire. Amid this situation, Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan reused an expression virtually identical to Governor Choo's "financial straw" remark.

Here is a report by reporter Choi Ho-won.

[Reporter]

Governor Choo Mi-ae, who attended the funeral for the late firefighter Kim Jin-seok this morning, moved to the National Assembly in the afternoon to undergo a parliamentary audit by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee.

During the audit, fierce criticism poured in over her remarks that the firefighting budget places a burden on the provincial finances—the so-called "firefighting financial straw" comment—as well as the apology she offered while paying respects to the deceased firefighter.

[Kim Jong-yang / People Power Party Lawmaker: "You're apologizing just because you were told to" — does this make any sense? This is nothing short of secondary harm and another absurd remark.]

Governor Choo Mi-ae repeatedly apologized.

[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Governor: "I sincerely apologize to all firefighters who were hurt by my remarks. I take the dedication of firefighters more seriously than anyone else."]

The fact that Gyeonggi Province cut 3.45 billion won from its firefighting budget—including funds for replacing aging fire engines, reinforcing various equipment, and holding memorial events for fallen firefighters—in its supplementary budget bill also became a major issue.

The provincial government explained that a 5.7 billion won decrease in government subsidies was the main cause, but the controversy is growing as it was brought to light that Governor Choo had emphasized reinforcing firefighting personnel and equipment back in 2017 when she served as the leader of her party.

[Choo Mi-ae / Then-Democratic Party Leader (December 2017, Jecheon Fire Site): "I think it is urgent to properly reinforce firefighting personnel and equipment for on-site responses."]

Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan also sparked controversy by defending Governor Choo and using an expression virtually identical to the "firefighting financial straw."

[Boo Seung-chan / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "Doesn't this (firefighting budget) genuinely suck up local government finances? Therefore, isn't there no answer if we don't resolve this at the national level and instead just criticize it?"]

Lawmaker Boo also refused demands for an apology from opposition lawmakers.

However, Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok issued a strict warning against Lawmaker Boo immediately after the audit concluded, along with an order for an official investigation.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.