Democratic Party Issues Warnings to Choo Mi-ae and Boo Seung-chan to Put 'Firefighting Straw' Remark Controversy to Rest

The Democratic Party of Korea on the 21st issued warnings of equal severity to Gyeonggi Gov. Choo Mi-ae and Rep. Boo Seung-chan, who sparked controversy with remarks likening firefighting costs to a "financial straw," and moved to put the matter to rest. At a press meeting after the party's closed-door Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Kye-won said, "We agreed to issue warnings to Gov. Choo and Rep. Boo, in the hope of prompting serious reflection and preventing any recurrence." Cho added, "We agreed to issue warnings at the same level to both."

Earlier, on the 19th, party leader Kim Min-seok ordered an ex-officio investigation by the party's Ethics Tribunal into Rep. Boo's remarks but took no separate action over Gov. Choo's remarks. The warning measure was finalized through Supreme Council discussion, without referring the cases to the ethics inspection unit. Spokesperson Cho explained, "This should be seen as the end of the matter with this warning."

The controversy began during parliamentary audits. On the 13th, at the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of the Gyeonggi provincial government, Gov. Choo said, "Firefighting is like the biggest financial straw giving us headaches." Six days later, on the 19th, Rep. Boo said at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province, "About 90 percent of the firefighting budget for personnel and support costs is national government work, yet local governments shoulder it—doesn't that just keep sucking up our finances?"

Both remarks were made in explaining that local governments still bear substantial costs even after firefighters were transferred from local to national government status. However, criticism followed over the inappropriate phrasing. Spokesperson Cho Kye-won of the Democratic Party said, "The party once again apologizes to firefighters and the public, and we will do our utmost to improve the relevant fiscal systems and enhance the safety and treatment of firefighters."