Fire Union Demands Apology for "Financial Straw" Remark... Choo Mi-ae Bows Head Again

[Anchor]

The firefighters' union held a press conference demanding official apologies from Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae and Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan regarding the so-called "firefighting financial straw" remarks. Governor Choo, who met with the union, bowed her head once again.

Reporter Kim Minjun has the details.

[Reporter]

[Are firefighters a financial straw? Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae, reflect sincerely!]

Yesterday afternoon, in front of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government office.

The Firefighters' Division of the Korean Government Employees' Union held a press conference, raising their voices to demand an official apology, stating that Governor Choo Mi-ae, the person behind the "financial straw" remark, "has not directly apologized to firefighters."

The union also urged Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan, who used a similar expression during the parliamentary audit the day before yesterday, to state his position.

[Kwon Young-gak / Head of the Firefighters' Division, Korean Government Employees' Union: An official apology must be made to firefighters, not an apology aimed at the press. Before the ink was even dry on Governor Choo's apology, Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan's absurd financial straw remark followed.]

Following the press conference, a meeting between Governor Choo and the firefighting union took place.

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 (on the 16th, the day of the Bucheon fire): (Governor, firefighters are protesting because of the financial straw remark...) Don't talk about that.]

Saying that she was unable to fully express what was truly in her heart at the time, she bowed her head once again.

[Choo Mi-ae / Gyeonggi Governor: The media took issue with that remark at the scene, but I was not able to fully express what was in my heart. Once again, I sincerely apologize if this caused you pain.]

During opening remarks, the union expressed gratitude for Governor Choo's apology. In 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)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.