Choo Mi-ae, the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, has been reported to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) by a civic group after her controversial remark comparing firefighting budgets to a "financial siphon."
The conservative civic group, the Citizens' Livelihood Countermeasure Committee, announced on the 19th that they filed a complaint against Governor Choo for abuse of power, obstruction of duty, and defamation.
During a National Assembly audit on October 13, while discussing the financial burdens on local governments and the budget for national firefighters, Choo stated, "Firefighting seems to be the biggest headache, like a 'financial siphon,'" which sparked significant backlash.
The criticism intensified following the tragic death of firefighter Kim Jin-seok, who died while battling a factory fire in Bucheon on October 17. This incident led to increased public outrage directed at Choo.
After visiting Kim's funeral, Choo expressed her condolences, stating, "If my comments were conveyed differently than intended, I sincerely apologize, and I truly regret any hurt caused." However, her apology was criticized as conditional.
In their complaint, the Citizens' Livelihood Countermeasure Committee described Choo's remarks as "outrageous statements" and argued that her insincere apology further disrespected the deceased and harmed the dignity of firefighters.
They called for a swift and thorough investigation, asserting that as the governor responsible for 140,000 residents, Choo is unfit for her position.
Meanwhile, during her opening remarks at the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit on the same day, Choo reiterated her apology to firefighters, saying, "I sincerely apologize to the firefighters who have been hurt by my recent comments."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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