Ethics inspection unit to investigate ahead of formal tribunal
'Regardless of context, the public would have found it uncomfortable'
'Not one person's problem — the whole party must weigh its words'
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok apologized Tuesday over remarks made by lawmaker Bu Seung-chan during a national audit of Gyeonggi Province on Monday, in which Bu said fire department budgets were "sucking fiscal resources dry." Kim said he was "once again sorry for the various concerns this has caused the public."
Speaking on the YouTube program "Minti07" that day, Kim said he felt that "regardless of the context, the public would have found it uncomfortable," adding that he believed "the party needed to take a position quickly."
He said he had issued a formal warning using his authority and directed an appropriate party body to investigate. Kim said he had initially considered referring the matter to the party's Ethics Tribunal but noted that the process would take time, and that the Ethics Inspection Unit could handle cases involving lawmakers in the meantime.
The controversy had already been building after Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae drew backlash from firefighters by describing fire budgets as a "fiscal straw." Bu's similar remarks reignited the dispute. Choo had issued repeated apologies over her comments, but Bu's statement brought the fire-related controversy back to the fore within the party.
Kim expressed regret over Bu's remarks, noting that Monday had been a day focused on a funeral ceremony and on Choo's continued apologies, and that the party had been discussing how to address fiscal policy going forward.
Kim said the issue was not one person's problem, but a reflection of the many difficulties the party as a whole — himself included — was facing. "At a time like this, I thought it would be better for everyone to be a little more careful in their words and actions," he said.
Earlier, on Monday, Kim had issued a stern warning to Bu over the fire-related remarks and ordered the party's Central Ethics Tribunal to conduct an ex officio investigation into the circumstances behind the comments.
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