Calls mount within ruling party for Choo Mi-ae to face disciplinary action and expulsion; criticism also over a reduced supplementary budget and poor communication

[Financial News] As calls within the Democratic Party of Korea for disciplinary action against Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae and her expulsion from the party continue to mount, a reduced supplementary budget, cuts to livelihood-related spending, and a lack of communication within the party have also come under scrutiny. The controversy over remarks concerning firefighters appears to have brought to the surface accumulated dissatisfaction with the overall administration of provincial affairs.
Seo Young-seok, chair of the Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeonggi Provincial Party, said in a radio interview on the 20th, referring to party members' reactions to Governor Choo, “We are getting a lot of texts and calls,” adding, “There are many people strongly calling for disciplinary action and expulsion from the party.” He also said, “With the reduced supplementary budget, the recent controversy over interference in the president's appointment authority, and the ‘fiscal siphon’ controversy all piling up, party members are seething.”
The criticism extended to Choo's overall administration of provincial affairs. On the reduced supplementary budget and cuts to livelihood-related spending, Seo said, “It is hard to readily accept cutting those things first just because the coffers are strained.” On communication among the provincial party, Gyeonggi Province, and the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, he said, “We have continued to propose making it a regular practice, but it still isn't functioning properly.” He stressed, “For the governor, the answer is to focus on running the province.”
[email protected] Song Ji-won Reporter