DPK weighs its options, focusing on fire-service budgets and institutional reform rather than disciplining Choo Mi-ae

[Financial News] Fallout continues inside and outside the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), despite repeated apologies by Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, a DPK member, for her remark describing firefighting as “a fiscal drain.” The party leadership under Kim Min-seok says it will focus on easing public outrage through fire-service budgets and policy support rather than disciplining Choo right away.
On the 19th, party leader Kim appeared on the DPK’s official YouTube program “Minti 07” and addressed the controversy over Choo’s remark describing firefighting as “a fiscal drain.” “What matters most right now is to understand how the public feels and do everything we can until their feelings have eased,” he said. His remarks were seen as avoiding a direct answer on whether she would be expelled or face specific disciplinary action.
The party’s position, released after the DPK Supreme Council meeting that day, was similar. Spokesperson Cho Gye-won said, “The party will focus on comforting the public, offering words of consolation to firefighters, and preparing related financial and institutional measures to address the issue.” He added, “We will discuss matters concerning Governor Choo later.”
Spokesperson Shin Hyun-young said, “There was a situation in which Governor Choo discussed financial support for firefighting, and I think there was a mistake in that process.” She added, “The party will come up with a sensible response that avoids turning disciplinary action against Governor Choo, or anything of that sort, into too much of a political issue.”
However, some within the party continue to argue that strong action against Governor Choo is necessary. In particular, pro-Lee Jae-myung party members with voting rights are demanding tough measures, including her expulsion, and have even launched a petition drive. Analysts say this is tied to Choo’s recent actions. She criticized the appointment of Kim Ji-yong as head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, putting herself at odds with the Lee Jae-myung administration, and has continued to make remarks that appear to blame President Lee and other former governors by describing Gyeonggi Province as being in a state of fiscal collapse.
Veteran DPK lawmaker Park Ji-won sharply criticized Governor Choo that day. Appearing on SBS radio’s “Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show,” he said, “Governor Choo keeps talking nonsense,” adding, “If she’s going to apologize, she should do it properly. By saying, ‘I’ll apologize because you told me to,’ she gives people something to criticize her for.”
On pro-Lee party members’ demands that Governor Choo be expelled, he said, “Things will improve if Governor Choo sincerely states once again, ‘That’s not what I truly meant,’ and shows consideration for the fire-service budget as well.” He added, “I think the leadership should at least issue a warning to her.”
The People Power Party continued its attacks on Governor Choo. At a National Assembly audit of Gyeonggi Province held that day at the provincial government building in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Kim Jong-yang of the People Power Party said, “She made an irredeemably insulting remark about firefighters, who are emblematic of uniformed public servants,” and criticized her for “trampling on the pride of uniformed public servants who risk their lives to serve the public in harsh conditions.”
He also took aim at Governor Choo’s remark, “Since you want an apology, I sincerely apologize with all my heart,” calling it “a case of secondary victimization and yet another outrageous remark” and deriding it as a so-called “dog apology.”
With criticism inside and outside the party showing no signs of abating, Governor Choo apologized once more for her remarks that day. Before beginning her report at the National Assembly’s audit of Gyeonggi Province by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, she said, “I sincerely apologize to the firefighters who were hurt by my recent remarks. I take firefighters’ dedication more seriously than anyone. I will pay even closer attention to their safety and working conditions.”
[email protected] Kim Hyeong-gu Reporter