Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized after party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan sparked controversy by defending Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae's remark describing fire services as a "fiscal straw" and stating that firefighting "sucks up fiscal funds," urging all party members to exercise caution in their words and actions.

Appearing Tuesday on the Democratic Party's YouTube program "MinTV 07," Kim apologized regarding Rep. Boo's remarks, saying, "I would like to say once again that I am sorry."

Explaining his decision on Monday to issue a stern warning to Boo and order an ex-officio investigation by the party's ethics inspection team, Kim said, "Regardless of the context, I felt that the public would find it uncomfortable," adding, "I thought it was necessary for the party to quickly take a stance."

He continued, "This is not an issue of just one person," adding, "A lot of difficult things are arising for everyone, including myself, and I took that action thinking that especially at times like this, it is better for all of us to weigh our words and actions more heavily."

On Monday, during a parliamentary audit of the Gyeonggi provincial government by the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, Rep. Boo stirred controversy by remarking on Governor Choo's comments: "She made a big mistake, but she apologized sufficiently," adding, "Even though firefighters are national public servants, local governments bear about 90 percent of the budget, so isn't this truly sucking up fiscal resources?"

Meanwhile, Kim addressed remarks made by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson that "the Republic of Korea begins at the southern fence line of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)," pointing out on Tuesday that "whether viewed from the Constitution or from the relationship between the Constitution and treaties, it was a very inappropriate expression in many ways."

He said, "Apart from territory from the perspective of territorial sovereignty stipulated in the Constitution, he expressed the area of military management and jurisdiction under the current Armistice Agreement in that way," but added, "Depending on how it is expressed, it is an phrasing that could be seen as referring to the state's concept of territory—that our Republic of Korea consists of the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands."

However, regarding interpretations that Commander Brunson's remarks might reflect intentions on the U.S. side concerning the current administration's push for an early wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer, Kim said, "Because the U.S. government drew a line by stating it was the commander's personal remark, there is no need to view it that way."

He emphasized, "Taking back wartime operational control as we improve our conditions and capabilities is something that has already been agreed upon," adding, "I believe there is no reason to think that we particularly need to change anything further just because the security environment has changed."

Regarding North Korean Workers' Party General Affairs Department Director Kim Yo-jong's warning on Monday that the North would "turn on anti-South loudspeakers," Kim said, "Because our military and security capabilities have become incomparably stronger than in the past and our diplomatic ties with neighboring countries are solid, I don't see a need to make a minute-by-minute response to such matters," adding, "We just need to maintain a consistent response."
 

(Photo: Yonhap News)