[Anchor]

Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok visited a memorial altar last night (October 18) to pay his respects to a firefighter who died in the line of duty. However, it was belatedly revealed that the vehicle Leader Kim traveled in was parked in a space reserved exclusively for emergency patients, drawing criticism. Leader Kim's chief of staff, who owns the vehicle, apologized, acknowledging it as an inexcusable mistake.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon reports.

[Reporter]

At a hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, where a memorial altar was set up for the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty while battling a fire.

Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok and Representative Kim Tae-sun, Leader Kim's chief of staff, who visited the hospital last night to offer their condolences, get out of the vehicle they rode in together.

[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader (Last Night): "As someone serving the nation, I feel like a sinner regarding such a sacrifice."]

The two departed after paying their respects for about 30 minutes, but it was later disclosed that the vehicle they arrived in had been parked in the hospital's "emergency patient-only parking zone."

Criticism was raised questioning whether this was special treatment, given that even inpatients are not permitted to park there. Representative Kim Tae-sun posted on social media today, stating, "The vehicle parked in the reserved parking zone is my office's vehicle," and adding, "It is entirely my fault without any excuse, and I sincerely apologize."

The Democratic Party also apologized, stating that while the car was parked in the zone following the guidance of hospital staff, it failed to observe the rules regardless of the reason.

Regarding the controversy surrounding Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae's remark describing firefighting finances as a "straw," the Democratic Party stated that it would accelerate institutional improvements to foster better working conditions for firefighters.

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: "We will take the lead in effective recurrence prevention measures, overhauling firefighting-related systems, and securing budgets."]

However, the party did not express a clear stance on demands from some party members for disciplinary action against Governor Choo.

The People Power Party continued its offensive, pointing out that Governor Choo slashed firefighting budgets while replacing her official residence and official car.

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader: "The key money deposit alone for the 47-pyeong apartment she moved into as her official residence was 1.2 billion won. The financial straw is Governor Choo Mi-ae herself."]

Targeting Leader Kim, the party demanded that he clarify whether he was aware that the vehicle was parked in the emergency patient-only space.

Video by Park Seon-soo | Design by Jang Seong-beom | Footage courtesy of NEWSIS