Choo Mi-ae apologizes for 'fiscal straw' remark about firefighters

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae apologized Saturday for her remarks describing firefighter funding as a "fiscal straw," saying the comment was "a mistake that came out while discussing structural fiscal problems."

Choo visited the funeral home of Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok — who died in the line of duty in a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province — at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital and offered her condolences. "Looking at the full context, that was not my intention," she said. "The expression came from a desperate desire to appeal for better treatment, and I had absolutely no intention of belittling firefighters."

The controversy stems from remarks Choo made Tuesday at a National Assembly audit of Gyeonggi Province by the Interior and Safety Committee. Discussing local government finances and the budget for firefighters — who hold national civil servant status — she said firefighting "seems like the biggest headache, like a fiscal straw."

Choo also addressed her refusal to apologize at the fire scene on Friday. "At the scene on Friday, people asked me to apologize, but I said 'please don't ask' because I felt that was not the right place," she said. "It was not that I was unable to offer an apology."

"If my words were conveyed differently from my intention, I offer my deepest regrets and sincerely apologize with all my heart," she said.

Choo said the controversy arose after a question about firefighters followed questions about Gyeonggi Province's fiscal emergency declaration during the audit. "Personnel costs come to about 1.1 trillion won ($816 million), but government support is only 80 billion won — extremely modest — and I said that was the most difficult part," she said.

Choo also said firefighting personnel are set to be significantly expanded, with about 3,200 additional staff — roughly 40 percent of the total increase — to be assigned to Gyeonggi Province's fire service. She said she had conveyed the situation to the Ministry of Interior and Safety and requested national government subsidies.

Fire Lt. Kim was deployed as part of the first-response unit to fight a blaze at a metal injection molding factory in Ojeong-gu, Bucheon, at around 8:38 a.m. Friday. He was rescued but died later that day.

His funeral will be held with Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial honors in accordance with his family's wishes, and a memorial service is scheduled for Monday.

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok also personally apologized Saturday for Choo's "fiscal straw" remarks. Choo is a member of the Democratic Party.

"On behalf of the party, I offer a deep apology to the firefighters and citizens who were hurt by the remarks of our party's governor," Kim said in a press notice. "I have also asked the governor herself to offer a deeply reflective apology."

"The party will take measures, after careful deliberation, to ensure that such inappropriate remarks by party-affiliated public officials do not occur again," he said.

Kim also expressed condolences for the fallen firefighter. "I offer my deepest condolences on the passing of Fire Lt. Kim," he said. "I also extend my heartfelt sympathy to firefighters and their families."

Kim's apology came after party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo issued an official statement of apology on Friday, followed by floor spokesperson Lee Ju-hee doing the same Saturday.

Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho also weighed in on Choo's apology in a Facebook post. "Rather than explaining that her words were not meant that way, Gov. Choo should first offer a sincere apology to those who were hurt by them — that is the right thing to do," he wrote. "She just apologized, and I think that was absolutely the right call."