Gyeonggi Governor Apologizes for ‘Financial Drain’ Remark About Fire Service

Gyeonggi Gov. Choo Mi-ae apologized Saturday for describing fire services as a major financial drain, saying the phrase was a mistake and did not reflect any intention to belittle firefighters.

Choo made the apology after visiting the funeral altar of fire lieutenant Kim Jin-seok at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital. Kim died after being deployed as part of the first response team to a factory fire in Bucheon, west of Seoul.

The governor said she deeply regretted that her words had been received differently from what she intended. She explained that she had been discussing a structural problem in local government finances when she used the controversial expression during a National Assembly audit of Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday.

At that hearing, Choo called firefighting the province’s most troublesome “financial drain” while responding to questions about local budgets and the cost of nationally appointed firefighters. The remark drew criticism for appearing insensitive toward emergency personnel and their work.

Choo said the province spends about 1.1 trillion won on personnel costs related to the fire service, while central government support amounts to only about 80 billion won. She also said roughly 3,200 firefighters, about 40 percent of a planned nationwide staffing increase, are expected to be assigned to Gyeonggi. The province has raised the issue with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and requested additional national funding, she added.

The governor characterized her choice of words as an error made while appealing for relief from a difficult fiscal imbalance. She said her underlying aim was to improve conditions for firefighters, not to diminish their contribution.

Choo also addressed an exchange at the fire scene on Friday, where she had been pressed to apologize. She said her request not to be questioned there was based on a belief that the scene was not an appropriate place for the discussion, rather than a refusal to apologize.

During Saturday’s condolence visit, Choo met Kim’s family. The bereaved relatives called for stronger safety systems and greater investment in firefighter protection. Choo promised provincial support for the funeral and the family, as well as honors reflecting Kim’s sacrifice.

Kim was sent into the metal-processing factory after the fire broke out at 8:38 a.m. Friday. He was rescued but died Saturday. Five other firefighters sustained serious or minor injuries, and the blaze caused eight casualties in total.

The funeral will be conducted as a Gyeonggi provincial government funeral at the family’s request. A memorial service is scheduled for Monday.