Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae. [Yonhap]
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae. [Yonhap]

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, who is facing a public petition calling for her resignation, compared herself to a daughter-in-law who had married into the province and declared she would not be forced out.

According to Gyeonggi Province, Choo made the remarks Tuesday at the "Gyeonggi Real Estate Conference 2026," held at Dasan Hall in the provincial government building, while discussing the province's fiscal situation.

"I thought coming to Gyeonggi Province would be like marrying into a wealthy family," she said. "But once I took charge of the household, I found the safe had been emptied and there were piles of debt."

Choo went on to say that some people were trying to drive her out. "I am also something of a strict conservative," she said. "Responsibility comes first."

Choo also described the fiscal situation she inherited after taking office. "It is already September, and the budget only covers through September — there are no allocations set for October, November or December," she said. "That is the ledger I was handed."

Even so, Choo said the province could not afford to stop working simply because it lacked funds. "I, Choo Mi-ae, am not getting kicked out," she said.

Meanwhile, ahead of the conference, Gyeonggi Province changed the status of a petition titled "We petition for the resignation of Governor Choo Mi-ae" to "response completed" on its petition board, halting further signatures. At the time the petition was closed, it had gathered 30,775 signatures.


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