[Anchor]

Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae, who sparked controversy with her remarks calling firefighting finances a "straw draining local budgets," issued another apology today (October 19). However, this time, the Gyeonggi provincial government's decision to cut more than 3 billion won from its firefighting budget has come under heavy fire. Amid this situation, Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan used an expression essentially identical to Governor Choo's "financial straw" remark.

Here is a report from reporter Choi Ho-won.

[Reporter]

Governor Choo Mi-ae, who attended the funeral of 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, lawmakers poured criticism over her remarks suggesting firefighting budgets burden local finances—the so-called "firefighting finance straw" comment—as well as her apology issued while paying respects to a deceased firefighter.

[Kim Jong-yang / People Power Party Lawmaker: "You say, 'I am apologizing because I was told to apologize.' Does that make any sense? This can only be seen as secondary harm and another absurd remark."]

Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae apologized repeatedly.

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

The fact that the Gyeonggi provincial government cut 3.45 billion won in firefighting budgets—including funds for replacing aging fire engines, reinforcing various equipment, and holding memorial events for fallen firefighters—from its supplementary budget proposal also came under scrutiny.

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

[Choo Mi-ae / Then-Democratic Party Leader (December 2017, Jecheon Fire Site): "I believe that on-site responses must be properly supported by reinforced firefighting personnel, and that the reinforcement of equipment is also urgently needed."]

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

[Boo Seung-chan / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "Doesn't this (firefighting budget) literally suck the life out of local government finances? Therefore, isn't there no answer if the national level fails to resolve this and people 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 to Lawmaker Boo immediately after the end of the audit and ordered a direct investigation.