The People Power Party on the 17th criticized Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae for apologizing at the funeral hall of a firefighter who died in the line of duty in a factory fire in Bucheon over her so-called "fiscal straw" remark, saying that "if she only went through the form of an apology while ignoring the substance of remorse, it will only leave another wound on the bereaved family and firefighters."
Chief Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said in a commentary released that day that Choo, when meeting reporters after paying her condolences, apologized by saying, "Since you want an apology, I apologize with all my heart."
"Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae's apology was arrogant to the end," Park said. "We cannot help feeling devastated at the sight of her putting her own sense of grievance ahead of her wrongdoing." He added, "What is even more appalling is the lengthy self-justification she poured out right after the apology." He raised his voice, saying, "The funeral hall of a firefighter who died in the line of duty is not a complaints office for resolving Governor Choo's grievances. If she was preoccupied with self-defense even before the portrait of the deceased, that is not an apology but another act of discourtesy." He also said, "After describing firefighters as a 'fiscal straw,' she has now turned even the funeral hall of a firefighter who died in the line of duty into a stage for self-justification," adding, "What sincerity could the public feel from someone who offers an apology with her mouth while endlessly continuing to make excuses?"
Choi Soo-jin, chief floor spokesperson, also told reporters at the National Assembly, "I was taken aback. It was utterly shameless, and of course it will not be accepted as an apology," snapping, "Apologize properly."
Meanwhile, Choo sparked controversy on the 13th during a parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee when, while discussing local government finances and the budget for firefighters, who are national civil servants, she said, "The fire service seems to be the biggest headache, like a straw sucking up the budget." Choo later explained, "I acknowledge it was a slip that came out while I was talking about structural fiscal problems," adding, "That expression came out of an earnest desire to appeal for better treatment for them, and I had absolutely no intention of disparaging firefighters."