Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok. [Yonhap]
Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok. [Yonhap]

Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok on Saturday called on Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae to stop provoking firefighters and instead take on "the government that wiped out jeonse supply in Gyeonggi Province."

Lee made the remarks in a Facebook post, saying Choo had been "stirring up bold provocations lately" and that "all politicians in Gyeonggi Province are embarrassed."

"Democratic Party lawmakers also seem to have plenty of complaints," he wrote. "If you stop playing the lone sage and meet just 10 Gyeonggi residents a day, you'll know which direction your main target should be."

The comments came after Choo sparked controversy Tuesday at a National Assembly audit of Gyeonggi Province by the House Administration and Security Committee, where she referred to the fire department as "the biggest headache — like a fiscal drain" while discussing local government finances and the budget for nationally employed firefighters.

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

Choo issued a formal apology Saturday afternoon over the remarks.

Choo visited the funeral home at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital for the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty in a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. After paying her respects, she said, "If my words were conveyed differently from what I intended, I offer my deepest regrets and sincerely apologize," adding that she had "absolutely no intention of disparaging firefighters."

Choo acknowledged the remarks were "a mistake that came out while discussing structural fiscal problems" and said "the full context shows that was not my intent."

She added that "the expression came from a desperate desire to appeal for better treatment" for firefighters.


yul@heraldcorp.com