Kim Min-seok: "We have already asked Choo Mi-ae for an official apology"
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said on the 19th, during an appearance on the party's YouTube channel 'Minti07,' that the party had already requested an official apology from Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae over her 'straw sucking up firefighting funds' remark. Asked whether the party had decided on any action regarding Governor Choo, he replied, "We asked early on that she issue an official apology," adding, "What comes first now is gauging the public's feelings and doing our utmost until hearts are soothed."
A fire broke out at a factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 17th, and firefighter Kim Jin-seok was killed in the line of duty while battling the blaze. Leader Kim Min-seok visited the funeral altar at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital in Bucheon on the 18th. The Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter, along with regional chapter heads and elected officials, issued an emergency statement of apology on the 17th and held an emergency joint meeting on the 18th chaired by provincial chapter chief Seo Young-seok.
The opposition also moved. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk urged Governor Choo to resign voluntarily at a Supreme Council meeting on the 19th. Jang pointed out that Governor Choo had cut firefighting-related budgets, including 2.65 billion won for fire truck purchases and 100 million won for a memorial project for fallen firefighters.
On the same broadcast, Kim also commented on President Lee Jae-myung's post on X (formerly Twitter) the previous day rebutting the controversy over the 'live broadcast of State Council meetings.' He said, "Broadly speaking, it is irreversible that discussions between the President and State Council members are made public directly rather than relayed through someone else." He added, "Judged solely by international comparison, the President's X posts are not remarkably numerous compared to other foreign leaders."
Governor Choo explained, "Because people wanted an apology, I sincerely apologize with all my heart," saying her remarks "were conveyed differently from my intentions." The funeral ceremony for firefighter Kim Jin-seok was held on the 19th at the Bucheon Gymnasium in Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, with Governor Choo Mi-ae in attendance. President Lee Jae-myung, after visiting the funeral altar, decided to posthumously promote Kim by one rank and award him the Order of National Service, Okjo Medal.
