South Korea's Democratic Party apologises over governor's firefighting funding remark

South Korea's Democratic Party apologised on 16 October to firefighters and their families over language used by Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae to describe firefighting finances. Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo (이용우) said in a written briefing that the party sincerely apologised to those hurt by the expression. Even if the intention was to explain difficulties facing local finances, the statement said, it had not sufficiently considered the work and pride of firefighters performing their duties in dangerous conditions. [ 2 , 4 ]

Choo made the remark on 13 October during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province. Responding to People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Young-jin (권영진), she compared firefighting to a troublesome straw draining finances. She said personnel costs alone would amount to 1.1 trillion won in 2027, with project costs of about 500 billion won. Firefighter unions criticised the remarks. Gyeonggi Province said the wording was intended to stress that local governments bear most related costs even after firefighters became national civil servants, while the national funding share had declined. [ 2 , 6 ]

The Democratic Party said it would seek budgets for firefighter safety, more personnel and equipment, and improvements in working conditions and treatment. It pledged to work for expanded support when reviewing next year's budget. The apology came on the day Choo visited a factory fire in Bucheon where firefighters were injured. Yonhap reported that she promised to ensure treatment and recovery for injured firefighters but did not otherwise address the disputed remark. SBS later reported that she avoided questions about it while unions demanded a public apology. [ 4 , 14 ]