As political parties continue to spar over Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae's remark describing fire services as a "fiscal straw," Rep. Boo Seung-chan of the Democratic Party drew fresh controversy by voicing agreement, saying, "Isn't it really draining the budget dry?"
Boo made the comment on the 19th during a National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government complex. "The fire-straw remark was certainly a serious mistake, but she has apologized fully. If the issue cannot be resolved at the national level and all we do is criticize, where does that leave us?" he said. "About 90% of the fire service budget goes to personnel costs, and local governments bear that burden — so isn't it really draining the budget dry?"
Boo said the province has no choice but to operate under emergency fiscal conditions. "It will not be converted into a grant-receiving local government for the next several years," he said, adding that the situation is severe enough that the province will be largely unable to provide the metropolitan-level welfare services it is supposed to deliver. Choo said, "With acquisition tax revenue falling by about 3 trillion won and an estimated 400 billion won decline due to property regulations, there is nothing to fall back on." She added that designation as a grant-receiving local government is urgently needed.
Under current rules, a local government qualifies for grant status when its standard fiscal demand exceeds its standard fiscal revenue. Once designated, the central government covers the shortfall through local allocation tax grants.
Choo had earlier stirred controversy when, while describing the difficulties of running the provincial government under such conditions, she called the fire service sector "the biggest, most troublesome fiscal straw." She explained that personnel costs alone will reach 1.1 trillion won in 2027, with project costs of about 500 billion won.
In response, the Korean Firefighters' Labor Union, affiliated with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, issued a statement on the 15th criticizing the remark: "Are firefighters' lives worth no more than a 'straw' nibbling away at local government budgets?"
Choo showed little reaction to the union's objections until the 17th, when Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok died in the line of duty while fighting a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. She visited the mortuary to pay respects and apologized. However, her remark during the apology — "Since you want an apology, I offer my sincere apologies" — triggered further controversy.
Boo served as spokesperson for Choo's election campaign committee when she ran as a candidate in the June 3 local elections.