The controversy surrounding Choo Mi-ae, the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, over her 'financial straw' comment regarding firefighters continues to escalate. In a satirical move, comedian Lee Sang-min delivered actual straws to Choo's office at the provincial government.
On October 17, Lee posted on his social media, sharing a purchase receipt for five bundles of 50 straws each, addressed to the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Suwon. He criticized Choo's remarks, which likened the firefighter organization to a 'financial straw,' stating, "Despite public outrage asking, 'How could she say such a thing?' she has not apologized. Instead, the party is stepping in to apologize. This is a reality more tragic than comedy."
The controversy began during a recent Gyeonggi Provincial National Assembly audit, where Choo expressed concerns about the financial burden on local governments due to the transition of firefighters to national positions, stating, "Firefighters seem to be the biggest, most troublesome 'financial straw.'" This comment drew significant backlash.
The situation worsened following the death of firefighter Kim Jin-seok, who died on October 16 while responding to a factory fire in Bucheon. Kim, a member of the Ojeong 119 Safety Center, was severely injured while battling the blaze and succumbed to his injuries on October 17.
As the fallout grew, criticism emerged from within the ruling Democratic Party. Party leader Kim Min-seok issued an apology on October 17, stating, "On behalf of the party, I sincerely apologize to the firefighters and the public who were hurt by the remarks of our party's governor," and called for Choo to reflect on her comments.
Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho also urged Choo to sincerely apologize, referencing a Korean proverb about the dangers of careless speech.
In response to the backlash, Choo visited Kim Jin-seok's memorial to apologize but sparked further controversy with her statement, "Since you are asking for an apology, I sincerely apologize." This remark raised additional questions about her sincerity.
Lee Sang-min later commented that he considered canceling the straw delivery after hearing about Choo's apology but decided against it, stating, "I found it hard to see her apology as genuine. The straws arrived at the provincial office this afternoon." Lee is known for his political impersonations and satirical content, currently hosting a political satire program on YouTube.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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