Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae argued on the 23rd that the central government should take on all personnel costs for national-level firefighters, saying, "We must put fire service finances on a sound footing." Having stirred controversy at the parliamentary audit with a remark likening the fire service to a "financial straw," she has raised the argument for the state's fiscal responsibility again.
In a Facebook post that day, Governor Choo wrote, "We should move toward the state taking full responsibility for the personnel costs of national-level firefighters." She said, "An important purpose of the shift to national status was to resolve the problem of firefighters' treatment and public safety varying with local fiscal conditions, but even after their status changed to national, the fiscal burden still remains with local governments," adding, "In keeping with the purpose of the shift to national status, fire service finances must also be put on a sound footing."
Governor Choo also cited the scale of industrial sites in the province as grounds. She pointed out, "In 2025, Gyeonggi Province had about 79,000 registered factories, 43.6% of the national total, and from 2019 to 2023 there were 4,336 factory fires in the province, an annual average of about 867," adding, "Gyeonggi fire services protect the safety of that many industrial sites, but of the taxes generated at industrial sites, corporate tax goes to the state and property tax goes to cities and counties, so the reality is that the province has no way to replenish its resources and only has responsibility."
According to Governor Choo, this year's personnel costs for Gyeonggi Province firefighters are 1.1973 trillion won. Of this, the state's support share is only 7.7%, and the province bears the remaining 92.3%.
Governor Choo said, "We will fulfill our responsibility to look after the safety and treatment of firefighters," but requested, "Please also think about why the responsibility is being put only on the province. The fire service union has also earnestly asked for securing funds at the national level. I ask the government, the National Assembly and the party's policy committee to respond together."
Earlier, on the 13th, at the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province, Governor Choo drew criticism for saying, "The fire service is like the biggest headache, a financial straw." Controversy grew further after she paid respects at the funeral altar of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty in a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 17th, and said, "Since you want an apology, I sincerely apologize."
Afterward, Governor Choo bowed her head repeatedly, including at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit on the 19th and at a meeting with the fire service union on the 21st. The Democratic Party issued a warning to Governor Choo, who said, "I humbly accept it" and "I will be careful with my words and actions."