Gyeonggi Province has stepped in to clarify comments made by Governor Choo Mi-ae regarding fire department funding.
On October 13, during a National Assembly audit at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office, Choo stated, "The fire department seems to be the biggest financial drain," sparking controversy.
Choo explained that while firefighters were transitioned to national status in 2020, local governments still bear significant costs for personnel and operational expenses. The transition aimed to enhance national response capabilities to major disasters and improve the poor working conditions of firefighters.
Firefighters responded strongly to her remarks. On October 14, the National Public Workers Union's Fire Department, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, issued a statement demanding an official apology, claiming Choo's comments undermined the dedication of firefighters.
On October 15, the Korean Firefighters Union, part of the Korean Trade Union Confederation, also released a statement asserting, "Firefighters are not a financial drain on anyone's pocket but the last line of defense for the public." They criticized the government for taking credit for the transition to national status while still offloading personnel costs onto local governments.
Kim Gil-jung, chairman of the Korean Firefighters Union, urged for a reform of the budget structure, calling for the national government to fully cover firefighter personnel costs.
In response to the growing concerns from the firefighting community, Gyeonggi Province provided clarification. Hong Eun-gwang, a spokesperson for the province, stated, "The governor's comments were intended to highlight that despite the transition of firefighters to national status, local governments still bear most of the related financial burdens, and the proportion of national funding has actually decreased."
Hong emphasized, "Firefighting is a critical and essential duty that protects the lives, safety, and property of the public. We deeply appreciate the hard work of Gyeonggi Province firefighters and will strive to ensure stable funding for firefighting resources."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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