Two civic groups file complaints against Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae in two days
In short
On 19 October a civic group filed a complaint against Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae with the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청) over her remark likening firefighting to a "fiscal straw". On 20 October a second group filed a complaint accusing her of perjury and abuse of authority over her 13 October parliamentary audit testimony.
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The civic group Seomin Minsaeng Daechaek Wiwonhoe (서민민생대책위원회) filed a complaint on 19 October against Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae with the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. It alleged abuse of authority, obstruction of business and defamation. Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily and Korea Economic Daily described the group as conservative-leaning. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The complaint concerns what Choo said on 13 October at the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province. Discussing local government finances and the budget for firefighters, who have become national civil servants, she said firefighting was "like the biggest headache, a fiscal straw". Gyeonggi Province later explained that she meant to point to the fact that local governments still bear most of the related costs. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
On 17 October Choo visited the funeral altar of Kim Jin-seok (김진석), who died in a factory fire in Bucheon. According to Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun and Korea Economic Daily, she said that if her remark had been conveyed differently from her intention she expressed deep regret, and that since an apology was wanted she apologised with all her heart. Korea Economic Daily reported criticism that the wording seemed to attach a condition to the apology. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
In its complaint the group called the remark an "immoral outrageous statement" and said an insincere, forced apology killed the deceased twice and wounded firefighters' pride, which it said amounted to defamation. Yonhap reported that the group asked for swift investigation and severe punishment. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that it demanded a public apology and Choo's resignation. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
On 20 October, Sasehaeng (사법정의 바로세우기 시민행동), another civic group, filed a complaint at the Suwon District office of the agency, Newsis reported. It alleged obstruction of the exercise of rights through abuse of authority, obstruction of business by deceit and perjury under the law on testimony before the National Assembly. The group said that at the 13 October audit Choo answered a question on an official car by saying her predecessor had decided on the purchase. [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Sasehaeng said Gyeonggi Province made the contract for the car a day before Kim Dong-yeon's term as governor ended, and that Kim's side found it hard to accept that a new official car was bought just before his departure. It also said Choo signed a high-priced rental residence contract while declaring a fiscal emergency, and that she closed a petition seeking her resignation within days instead of the usual 30 days. These are the group's claims, and the documents carry no response from Choo. [ 8 ]
Why it matters
The documents show the dispute over Choo's remarks and audit testimony moving into criminal complaints, with two groups filing on consecutive days. They do not say whether investigators have opened a case.
Key facts
- On 19 October the civic group Seomin Minsaeng Daechaek Wiwonhoe (서민민생대책위원회) filed a complaint against Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae with the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, alleging abuse of authority, obstruction of business and defamation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- On 13 October, at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee audit of Gyeonggi Province, Choo said firefighting was "like the biggest headache, a fiscal straw". [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- On 17 October Choo visited the funeral altar of firefighter Kim Jin-seok (김진석), who died in a factory fire in Bucheon, and said she apologised "with all my heart" because an apology was wanted. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The group called the remark an "immoral outrageous statement" and said an insincere, forced apology amounted to defamation. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- On 20 October the civic group Sasehaeng (사법정의 바로세우기 시민행동) filed a complaint at the Suwon District office of the agency alleging perjury, abuse of authority and obstruction of business. [ 8 ]
- The second complaint concerns Choo's 13 October audit testimony on the purchase of an official car. [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Seomin Minsaeng Daechaek Wiwonhoe filed a complaint against Choo with the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency on 19 October over her "fiscal straw" remark about firefighting. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Choo made the remark at the 13 October audit of Gyeonggi Province by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- A second complaint against Choo, over alleged perjury at the audit, was filed on 20 October, a day after the first. [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Choo's audit testimony on the official car was false. Only Sasehaeng's claims are reported; the documents carry no response from Choo or the agency.
- Whether the agency will open investigations into either complaint. The documents do not say.
- Whether Choo's remarks defamed firefighters. This is the complainants' claim. Gyeonggi Province said the remark was meant to point to a financing problem.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 19 October Chosun Ilbo reported the first complaint against Choo. [ 1 ]
- On 20 October Sasehaeng went to the Suwon District office of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and submitted its complaint, after a press conference. [ 8 ]
- On 20 October Yonhap reported that Choo had been the subject of a second complaint in two days. [ 7 ]