Kim Min-seok apologizes again over the “fire-service funding straw” remark as calls grow to discipline and expel Choo

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok apologized again on the 20th in connection with lawmaker Boo Seung-chan, who sparked controversy by defending Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae’s “fire-service funding straw” remark. After issuing a stern warning to Boo the previous day and ordering an investigation on his own authority, Kim moved to contain the fallout, urging the entire party to be cautious in its words and actions. Despite his efforts, calls within the party to discipline and expel Choo have continued, while controversies over supplementary budget cuts, cuts to livelihood programs and a lack of communication within the party have also persisted. At a Cabinet meeting that day, President Lee Jae-myung ordered a comprehensive review of the relevant systems to ensure thorough protection for frontline personnel facing danger, including firefighters and police officers.
Appearing that day on the party’s official YouTube program Minti07, Kim said of Boo’s remarks, “I would like to apologize once again.” He added, “This is not a problem involving just one person,” stressing that everyone, himself included, needed to be more mindful of their words and actions.
The Democratic Party sent an official letter, under the name of Secretary-General Han Jeong-ae, to city and provincial party chairs and constituency committee chairs, urging them to “mourn the death in the line of duty of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok in a calm and restrained manner.”
Boo, who sparked the controversy, also posted on social media (SNS), saying, “I bow my head and apologize. I sincerely apologize to the firefighters and members of the public who were hurt by my remarks yesterday (the 19th).” He added, “As someone who once wore a uniform, I deeply regret that I failed to show the respect due to those who are devoting themselves, even at this moment, to protecting the lives and safety of the public.”
The previous day, Boo had sparked controversy while defending Governor Choo’s remarks during the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee’s audit of Gyeonggi Province. He said Choo had been wrong but had apologized sufficiently, then noted that although firefighters are national civil servants, local governments cover most of the related budget. “Isn’t the money just being sucked up at a rapid clip?” he said.
The successive gaffes by Governor Choo and Boo are also weighing on Kim’s leadership, now more than two months into its term. The party’s leadership continues to have to manage controversies over remarks by its members, while the party’s approval ratings have yet to show a clear rebound. The pressure is mounting to restore discipline within the party while creating momentum for a recovery in support through results on livelihood issues and policy.
Sentiment within the Democratic Party and among its supporters is also worsening. In a radio interview that day, Seo Young-seok, chair of the party’s Gyeonggi provincial chapter, described party members’ reactions to Governor Choo, saying, “There have been a lot of texts and phone calls,” and “Many are strongly saying that she should be disciplined and expelled from the party.” He added, “With the supplementary budget cuts, the recent controversy over interference with the president’s appointment authority, and the ‘funding straw’ controversy all piling up, anger among party members is boiling over.”
At a Cabinet meeting he chaired at the Blue House that day, President Lee also referred to the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty, and called for institutional improvements. “Above all, core functions essential to public safety—including firefighting, policing, disaster prevention and health care—need a major overhaul and reinforcement,” he said, ordering officials to “conduct a comprehensive, full-scale review of the system so that it thoroughly protects not only people facing danger but also frontline personnel.” He added, “We must break from past practices, expand budgets and staffing, and take a forward-looking approach to effective institutional improvements.”
Meanwhile, prompted by the controversy over Governor Choo’s “fire-service funding straw” remark, the ruling and opposition parties have begun competing through budget measures and legislation to bolster fire-service funding ahead of the November budget session. With personnel costs for firefighters rising from 4.6 trillion won in 2021 to 6.5 trillion won this year, the Democratic Party plans to increase national funding and revise relevant systems to ease the fiscal burden concentrated on local governments. The People Power Party is also pursuing an expansion of the fire-service budget and measures to improve working conditions. On the 19th, lawmaker Kim Jae-seop introduced as lead sponsor an amendment to the Fire Service Finance Support Act that would fund firefighters’ personnel costs from the national general account when they are not covered by the Fire Safety Subsidy Tax and the Local Resource and Facility Tax.
[email protected] Kim Hyeong-gu, Song Ji-won and Seong Seok-woo Reporter