Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae belatedly apologized for calling fire service spending a "fiscal straw" during a visit to the mourning site of a firefighter killed in the line of duty, but sparked fresh controversy by saying, "Since you want an apology, I apologize." Party members aligned with President Lee Jae-myung, whose frustration has built up over repeated friction with the governor, have seized on the remark to push for disciplinary action and even her expulsion from the party.
According to political sources on the 18th, Choo visited the mourning site of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died while fighting a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, a day earlier. She said the remark was "a slip of expression that came out while I was explaining structural fiscal problems," adding, "If it was conveyed differently from my intention, I express deep regret, and since you want an apology, I apologize with all my heart."
Choo had drawn criticism on the 13th when she described the fire service budget as "the biggest headache, a fiscal straw" during a parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. The Korean Firefighters' Labor Union, affiliated with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, issued a statement on the 15th asking, "Are firefighters' lives worth no more than a 'straw' nibbling away at local government budgets?"
As the controversy spread, the Democratic Party leadership apologized ahead of Choo in an attempt to contain the damage. Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo apologized on the 16th, followed by party leader Kim Min-seok on the 17th. "On behalf of the party, I deeply apologize to the firefighters and the public who were hurt by the remarks of a provincial governor belonging to our party," Kim said. "We will take measures after careful deliberation to prevent inappropriate remarks from recurring."
Although Choo eventually walked back her comment, the phrase "since you want an apology" reignited public anger. Critics said the wording suggested a grudging apology, calling the sincerity of her remarks into question.
The opposition intensified its calls for Choo to step down. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk wrote on Facebook that the apology was "forced out after five days of pressure," adding that she was "arrogant to the very end." Citing cuts to Gyeonggi Province's welfare and education budgets as well as Choo's use of an official residence, he said, "The real fiscal straw is Choo Mi-ae herself," and added, "Since you want a resignation, resign." Floor leader Chung Jom-sig also said, "An apology given only because others demanded it cannot be considered a genuine apology."
Internal conflict within the Democratic Party, triggered by Choo, is also deepening. Party members are circulating a joint petition calling for emergency disciplinary action against the governor. An online community of Lee's supporters, "Jaemyeong's Village," posted the petition as a notice and is encouraging participation. The petitioners argued that the "fiscal straw" remark amounted to conduct damaging to the government and the party. Dozens of posts demanding Choo's expulsion have also appeared on the site.
The party's Gyeonggi provincial chapter held a meeting of district chairs in Bucheon on the same day to discuss how to respond to Choo's management of provincial affairs and the controversy over her remarks related to the firefighter's death. One lawmaker from Gyeonggi Province expressed frustration, saying, "Lawmakers have had serious concerns about the handling of provincial affairs over the past three months, including the supplementary budget." The outcome of the meeting was relayed to Kim.
With the party's internal strife in the open, Kim himself became embroiled in controversy over interrupting a performance at a local festival. On the 15th, at the Sunchang Fermented Soybean Festival in Jeonbuk State, Kim took the stage without notice to deliver greetings while singer HYNN, whose given name is Park Hye-won, was performing. HYNN, who was preparing her next song, appeared flustered when told of the interruption and left the stage.
As criticism mounted, Kim apologized on Facebook. "I had made clear that I would not give greetings because a performance was underway, but I was suddenly called up by the host," he wrote. "I am sorry for the inconvenience caused to the singer and the audience."
Amid the continuing internal conflict and controversies, the Democratic Party's approval rating has shown little sign of rebounding. In a Gallup Korea survey in the third week of October, support for the party stood at 36%, down 5 percentage points from 41% in the second week of August, just before Kim took office. Despite Kim's pledge to lift the party's support by 10 percentage points within 100 days of taking office, no clear rebound has emerged two months into his tenure.
Choo will attend Kim Jin-seok's funeral service on the 19th before appearing at a parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province by the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. The audit, originally scheduled for 10 a.m., was pushed back to 1 p.m. so she could attend the funeral.