Gyeonggi Gov. Choo apologizes again over remarks criticized as disparaging firefighters

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae apologized again Monday in Suwon over remarks describing firefighters as a fiscal drain. Her first apology, issued after a firefighter died responding to a factory fire in Bucheon, drew criticism for lacking sincerity. Choo vowed to pay closer attention to firefighters’ safety and working conditions, while opposition and ruling-party lawmakers called for a more sincere response.

Choo made the controversial remarks during a parliamentary audit last Tuesday, calling firefighting the biggest headache and fiscal drain for local governments.

The firefighter died while responding to a factory fire in Bucheon, west of Seoul.

The People Power Party urged the Democratic Party of Korea to expel Choo or impose disciplinary action.

Democratic Party lawmakers Park Jie-won and Kim Byung-joo criticized the manner of Choo’s first apology and called for a sincere apology.

Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok pledged greater funding and support to improve firefighters’ working environment.

Published Oct 19, 2026 3:48 pm KST

Gyeonggi Gov. Choo Mi-ae mourns a late firefighter, Kim Jin-seok, at an altar for him during his funeral in the city of Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Yonhap

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae apologized again Monday over her controversial remarks describing firefighters as a "fiscal drain" after her earlier apology, seen as lacking sincerity, drew public backlash.

"I sincerely apologize to all firefighters who were hurt by my recent remarks," Choo said during a parliamentary audit of the Gyeonggi provincial government at the local government's office in Suwon, south of Seoul.

"I value the dedication of firefighters more than anyone else," she said, vowing to pay closer attention to their safety and working conditions.

Choo has been at the center of controversy since referring to the firefighting service as the biggest "headache" and "fiscal drain" for local governments during a parliamentary audit last Tuesday.

Choo first apologized on Saturday, four days after making the remarks, following the death of a firefighter who was responding to a factory fire in Bucheon, west of Seoul.

Her apology, however, drew further criticism for appearing to lack sincerity.

"If my remarks were conveyed in a way I did not intend, I offer deep regrets, and since you want an apology, I offer my sincere apologies with all my heart," Choo said after paying her respects at the memorial altar of the late firefighter.

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has urged the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to expel Choo or take disciplinary action against her.

"The fundamental problem is that we cannot help but question whether Gyeonggi Gov. Choo Mi-ae, who considers firefighters a fiscal drain, can truly protect the lives and safety of Gyeonggi's 13 million residents," PPP Rep. Shin Dong-uk said during a meeting of the party's supreme council.

Her apology also prompted criticism from lawmakers within the DPK.

In an SBS radio interview, DPK Rep. Park Jie-won said Choo should have apologized properly rather than suggesting that she was doing so because others had demanded it.

Rep. Kim Byung-joo also called on Choo to issue a "sincere apology," saying the sincerity of an apology should be felt by those who receive it.

The DPK leadership pledged to improve firefighters' working conditions and increase financial support for firefighting services.

"A hero should be treated with the respect he deserves," DPK leader Kim Min-seok said during the party's supreme council meeting. "We will continue to boost funding and support to ensure a safe working environment for firefighters."

京畿道知事秋美爱周一在水原再次就其此前将消防员描述为财政负担的言论道歉。此前，一名消防员在富川一家工厂火灾中殉职，秋美爱就此事发表了首次道歉，但因缺乏诚意而受到批评。秋美爱承诺将更加关注消防员的安全和工作条件，而反对党和执政党议员则呼吁她做出更真诚的回应。

朱在上周二的国会审计中发表了这番引发争议的言论，称救火是地方政府最大的难题和财政负担。

这名消防员在首尔以西的富川市扑救一起工厂火灾时殉职。

国民力量党敦促韩国民主党开除秋美贤党党籍或对其采取纪律处分。

民主党议员朴智元和金炳柱批评了秋美贤第一次道歉的方式，并呼吁她真诚道歉。

民主党领袖金珉锡承诺将加大资金投入和支持力度，以改善消防员的工作环境。

发布于2026年10月19日下午3:48（韩国标准时间）

周一，京畿道知事秋美爱在京畿道富川市举行的消防员金镇锡葬礼上，在其灵位前悼念。（韩联社）

京畿道知事秋美爱周一再次就其将消防员描述为“财政负担”的争议性言论道歉。此前，她曾发表道歉声明，但被认为缺乏诚意，引发公众强烈反对。

“对于我最近的言论伤害到的所有消防员，我真诚地道歉，”秋美铉在首尔以南水原市地方政府办公室举行的京畿道政府国会审计会上说道。

“我比任何人都更珍视消防员的奉献精神，”她说道，并承诺将更加关注他们的安全和工作条件。

自上周二在国会审计中将消防部门称为地方政府最大的“麻烦”和“财政负担”以来，朱棣文一直处于争议的中心。

在首尔以西富川市一家工厂发生火灾，一名消防员在灭火过程中殉职后，秋美飒于周六首次公开道歉。此前，秋美飒发表了上述言论，距其言论已过去四天。

然而，她的道歉却因显得缺乏诚意而招致了更多批评。

“如果我的言论表达方式有误，我深表歉意。既然你们想要我道歉，我由衷地向你们道歉。”在向已故消防员的纪念碑致敬后，朱女士说道。

主要反对党国民力量党（PPP）敦促执政的共同民主党（DPK）开除秋美贤党或对其采取纪律处分。

“根本问题在于，京畿道知事秋美爱认为消防员是财政负担，她是否真的能够保护京畿道1300万居民的生命安全，”人民进步党议员申东旭在党最高委员会会议上表示。

她的道歉也招致了民主党内部议员的批评。

在接受SBS电台采访时，朝鲜民主主义人民党议员朴智元表示，秋美珍应该正式道歉，而不是暗示她道歉是因为其他人要求她道歉。

议员金炳柱也呼吁秋美贤发表“真诚的道歉”，并表示道歉的真诚应该让接受道歉的人感受到。

朝鲜人民军领导层承诺改善消防员的工作条件，并增加对消防服务的财政支持。

“英雄理应受到应有的尊重，”朝鲜民主主义人民党主席金珉锡在党最高委员会会议上表示，“我们将继续加大资金投入和支持力度，以确保消防员拥有安全的工作环境。”