Choo Mi-ae, the Gyeonggi governor, apologized for her recent controversial remark about firefighters being a "financial drain," stating, "There was no intention to belittle firefighters."
On October 17, after visiting the funeral of firefighter Kim Jin-seok at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Choo told reporters, "I express my deep regret if my comments were conveyed differently than intended. I sincerely apologize."
Choo's comments sparked controversy during a National Assembly audit on October 13, where she referred to local government financial issues and the budget for national firefighters, saying, "Firefighting seems to be the biggest financial drain."
She acknowledged, "I recognize that it was a mistake made while discussing structural financial issues. In the overall context, that was not my intention. The expression came from a heartfelt plea to improve treatment, and there was absolutely no intention to belittle firefighters."
Additionally, she explained, "Yesterday at the fire scene, there were requests for an apology, but I felt it was inappropriate to address it there, asking not to be questioned further. That does not mean I couldn't apologize."
During her visit to the funeral, Choo spoke with Kim's family, who reportedly called for improvements in safety systems and increased investment in firefighting. Choo promised that the provincial government would honor Kim's sacrifice with appropriate support for the funeral and the family.
Firefighter Kim died early the next day after being dispatched to extinguish a fire at a factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. The incident resulted in Kim's death and injuries to five other firefighters, totaling eight casualties. The Gyeonggi provincial government has arranged for Kim's funeral to be held from October 17 to 19.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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