Ruling party moves to tighten internal discipline after repeated ‘firefighting budget straw’ gaffes

[Financial News] The DPK has moved to tighten internal discipline after controversy erupted over remarks by Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae describing firefighting funds as a “fiscal straw,” followed by similar remarks from Rep. Boo Seung-chan. On the 20th, DPK floor leader Han Byung-do called for responsible words and actions befitting the ruling party, saying, “We must return to our original mindset.”
At a meeting on parliamentary audit preparations at the National Assembly that day, Han said, “The public’s anger and disappointment are growing because of politicians’ repeated gaffes. I feel a great sense of responsibility as floor leader that the words and actions of public officials affiliated with the DPK, in particular, have fallen short of the public’s expectations and standards.”
Earlier, Governor Choo likened the firefighting budget to a “fiscal straw” during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on the 13th, drawing a backlash from the firefighters’ union. As criticism mounted that her remarks disparaged firefighters’ dedication, some within the DPK called for her to be disciplined and expelled from the party.
Before the controversy had even died down, it reignited on the 19th during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee’s audit of Gyeonggi Province. While defending Governor Choo, Rep. Boo said firefighting-related budgets “keep sucking up local finances.” The People Power Party launched a wave of criticism, saying the inappropriate remark was made on the day a funeral was held for a firefighter who died in the line of duty.
In response, DPK leader Kim Min-seok issued a stern warning to Rep. Boo and ordered the central party’s Ethics Tribunal to conduct an ex officio investigation into the circumstances surrounding the remarks. As a series of gaffes by ruling-party figures escalated into an opposition offensive and an intra-party disciplinary issue, the party leadership publicly called for self-reflection and moved to tighten internal discipline.
Han stressed, “The DPK must never forget, even for a moment, that it is the ruling party and bears unlimited responsibility for governing together with the Lee Jae-myung administration.”
He added, “We must return to our original mindset. We will work to live up to the public’s trust by taking greater responsibility for every word and action.”

[email protected] Song Ji-won Reporter