SEOUL — Controversy continues to escalate following Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Choo Mi-ae’s recent remarks characterizing firefighting finances as a "financial straw." The backlash has reached a fever pitch after a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, left one firefighter dead and five others injured.

With a large-scale memorial festival scheduled to honor the sacrifice and dedication of fallen firefighters, the atmosphere is heavier than ever. Condemnation of the Governor’s remarks and demands for improved treatment for firefighters are expected to intensify further.

According to fire authorities on the 17th, a fire broke out the previous day at a paint factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, claiming the life of one firefighter and injuring seven others, including five fellow firefighters.

The two most seriously injured were in their 40s who were deployed for initial firefighting operations and suffered heavy smoke inhalation as the flames spread. One of them regained consciousness after being transferred to a hospital, but the other was transported in cardiac arrest and tragically passed away early this morning despite receiving medical treatment.

This fatal incident occurred amid ongoing uproar over Governor Choo's recent comments.

During a parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on the 13th, Governor Choo responded to a question by People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Young-jin regarding the expansion of fire budgets, stating, "Firefighting seems to be the biggest and most troublesome financial straw."

She added, "In terms of labor costs alone, it is projected to consume 1.1 trillion won by 2027, with project costs at around 500 billion won. Despite being national public servants, the amount draining out from firefighting alone is 1.7 trillion won." This implied that even though firefighters were converted from local to national civil servants in 2020, local governments still shoulder a significant portion of labor and project costs.

Labor Unions Fire Back at "Insulting" Remarks

Firefighter labor unions immediately mounted a strong backlash.

The Fire Chapter of the Korean Government Employees' Union issued a statement saying, "We cannot contain our surging rage and devastation at the portrayal of firefighters, who run day and night to protect the lives and safety of citizens, simply as a budget-wasting factor or a financial burden."

The union pointed out, "If heavy reliance on local finances is the problem, boldly demanding a higher proportion of national funding from the government is the proper duty of a governor. However, using cheap expressions like 'consuming' budgets severely undermines the honor of firefighters."

The Fire Official Labor Union under the Federation of Korean Government Employees' Unions also rebuked the remarks, stating, "Comparing firefighting to a 'financial straw' and treating firefighters like baggage draining the treasury tramples upon the self-esteem of public servants who quietly dedicate themselves in the field." They added, "Failing to resolve the structural contradictions of the transition to national service is the responsibility of politics and administration, not the fault of the fire service."

As the protests from labor unions continued, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government clarified that the intent was not to disparage firefighters, but rather to emphasize that local governments still bear most fire-related finances while the ratio of national government support is shrinking.

However, criticism inside and outside the fire service grew even louder when a firefighter in critical condition from the Bucheon fire—under the Governor's jurisdiction—ultimately passed away just three days after Choo’s remarks.

A fire union official demanded, "Can you still call firefighting a financial straw after seeing the firefighters collapse at this fire scene? Governor Choo must immediately get on her knees and apologize for disparaging the dedication of public servants."

Citizens also voiced continuous criticism, with comments such as, "How can you treat firefighters who risk their lives like a straw?", "Regardless of the intent or context, shouldn't she think about the impact of her remarks?", and "It was a highly inappropriate comment for a governor."

Governor Visits the Scene Amid Scrutiny; National Memorial Held

Governor Choo canceled her scheduled itinerary the previous day and visited the fire scene to comfort the fellow firefighters who had joined the firefighting efforts. At the scene, a firefighter wearing a soot-covered firefighting suit was captured hanging their head and weeping in despair.

Governor Choo stated, "I am grateful for the courage, dedication, and hard work of the firefighters. Gyeonggi Province will make every effort to ensure a speedy recovery through medical treatment," adding, "We will also immediately take measures to pre-emptively crack down on facilities handling hazardous materials and strengthen prevention activities."

However, when reporters asked about her "financial straw" remark, Governor Choo grimaced and dismissed them, saying, "Don't talk about that," avoiding any direct answer.

Meanwhile, the National Fire Agency is holding the "3rd 119 Memorial Day Commemorative Cultural Festival" around the Sejong Central Park Urban Festival Plaza.

Starting at 10:30 a.m., the "119 Memorial Run" is taking place, with about 2,500 participants—including general citizens, firefighters, and bereaved families of fallen firefighters—running 11.9km and 5km courses wearing bib numbers engraved with the names and dates of death of fallen firefighters.

In particular, a "Public Participation Memorial Ceremony" attended by bereaved families, fire officials, and citizens is scheduled for 2 p.m., alongside a joint memorial altar for the firefighters who died in the Bucheon fire.

At this venue, criticisms of Governor Choo's remarks, alongside calls for enhanced safety and better treatment for firefighters, are expected to resurface prominently.

Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung attended the opening ceremony of the National Sports Festival held at the Jeju World Cup Stadium the previous day. Prior to his commemorative address, wishing for the speedy recovery of the injured firefighters, he remarked, "Compared to dedicating one's life for the life and safety of the citizens, would a thousand pieces of gold ever be considered too much?"

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