Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, issued a direct apology on the 17th for remarks by Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, a member of his own party, who had described fire services as a "budget drain" — a Korean expression likening fire services to a straw sucking up local government funds.
"On behalf of the party, I offer my deepest apology to the firefighters and the public who were hurt by the remarks of a governor from our party," Kim said in a notice to the media. "I have also asked the person concerned to offer a deeply reflective apology."
"The party will take measures after careful deliberation to ensure that such inappropriate remarks by public officials from our party do not happen again," Kim said.
Kim's apology followed official statements from party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo the previous day and floor spokesperson Lee Ju-hee earlier the same day. Choo drew criticism on the 13th when, during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, she said that in discussing local government finances, "fire services seem to be the biggest headache, like a straw draining our budget."
Criticism of Choo has intensified following the death of Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died on the 17th in the line of duty after responding to a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Choo visited the Bucheon fire site the previous day but did not respond to reporters' questions about the "budget drain" remark.
"I offer my deepest condolences on the passing of Fire Lieutenant Kim," Kim said. "I also extend my deepest sympathies to firefighters and their families."
He added that he would pay his respects at the funeral after completing official engagements in Busan that run through the following day.