Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, under fire for describing fire services as a drain on finances, has been reported to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency on charges including defamation.
The Seomin Civil Livelihood Measures Committee, a conservative civic group, filed a complaint with the agency on the 19th, accusing Choo of abuse of authority, obstruction of business and defamation.
At a parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on the 13th, Choo referred to local government finances and the budget for firefighters, who are national civil servants, and said fire services seemed like the most troublesome "fiscal straw."
On the 17th, she visited the memorial altar for the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, and sparked further controversy by saying, "Since you want another apology, I apologize with all my heart."
In its complaint, the group called the remarks "an outrageous, morally depraved statement" and argued that "a forced apology lacking sincerity kills the deceased a second time and constitutes defamation that has deeply wounded the pride of firefighters."
The group also urged that Choo "be sternly punished through a swift and thorough investigation, as she is unfit to serve as Gyeonggi Province governor with responsibility for 140,000 people."