Chung Jeom-sik: “The Chu-Seok ‘siblings’—their outrageous remarks about firefighters and abuse of power are so serious that even a three-steps-one-bow apology would not be enough”

[Financial News] People Power Party floor leader Chung Jeom-sik criticized the allegations that Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok received excessive protocol and the controversy over Gyeonggi Governor Chu Mi-ae’s “fiscal siphon” remark on the 20th, saying, “The Chu-Seok ‘siblings’ (Chu Mi-ae, Gyeonggi governor, and Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea) should seek forgiveness together by performing the three-steps-one-bow ritual—and even that would not be enough.” Kim had demanded that Gov. Chu apologize, but Chung said the two should apologize together.
At a meeting on measures for the parliamentary audit at the National Assembly that day, Chung said, “Kim has been going around abusing his power while demanding an apology from Gov. Chu. Whether it is Gov. Chu’s outrageous remarks disparaging firefighters or Kim’s abuse of firefighters, both are equally disrespectful,” making the same criticism.
Commenting on Kim’s visit to Seoul’s Gangseo Fire Station at 5 a.m., he said, “They woke firefighters who should have been sleeping and resting at that hour and gathered them all together just to take a single photo. It would not be an exaggeration to call it a ‘siphon on their rest.’ It was a clear abuse of power.”
He also mentioned the controversy over a vehicle belonging to Kim’s chief of staff, in which Kim was riding, using the hospital parking area reserved for emergency patients for 30 minutes while Kim paid his respects at the funeral of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok. “It was an unauthorized occupation of space meant for emergency patients,” he said, criticizing Kim for “inconveniencing emergency patients whose lives were in danger while paying respects to a firefighter who died in the line of duty protecting the public.”
He also criticized Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan’s remark that “fire services are sucking up public funds.” Chung said, “The Democratic Party should impose its harshest party-level disciplinary action on the governor and Rep. Boo to ensure that remarks like these are never made again.”
Meanwhile, the People Power Party plans to establish a Task Force on Honoring Firefighters’ Dedication to develop measures to improve firefighters’ working conditions. Chung emphasized, “We will strengthen the fire service budget to honor firefighters’ sacrifice and dedication,” adding, “The task force will develop measures to improve their working conditions under three main principles: strengthening the central government’s responsibility for fire services, supporting firefighter safety, and expanding support for the families of firefighters who die in the line of duty.”

[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter