[Gyeonggi Provincial Audit] Choo Mia: "Official Residence Was Not Lavish... I Responded to Resignation Petition by the Rules"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mia strongly denied claims that the official residence was lavish and extravagant during the parliamentary audit on the 13th. Regarding criticism that she had given an inadequate response to a petition calling for her resignation, she said she had followed the proper procedures.

When People Power Party lawmaker Joo Ho-young raised the allegations about the official residence, Governor Choo replied, "The residence is leased on a deposit basis, and the deposit is returned when the contract expires. It is not something that should be described as lavish or extravagant."

She also addressed the controversy over the official vehicle, saying, "Some details have been misreported." Governor Choo explained, "The vehicle had reached the end of its service life, so a new one needed to be prepared. This was before I took office, and I did not make the payment. After concerns were raised, I checked and found that the previous governor had decided to purchase it." She added, "I understand that the purchase was also made in line with recommendations to buy eco-friendly vehicles."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae takes an oath as she attends the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province on the 13th. Provided by Gyeonggi Province.

She also said, "I only learned this time that an additional leased vehicle had been acquired during the alternate-day vehicle restriction period. I simply used that car because I was told it was for the governor's commute."

Governor Choo also responded to People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh, who criticized her for recording a video response to the "Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway" petition, the first petition submitted to the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, while responding to the resignation petition only with a written briefing from her spokesperson. "I responded faithfully in accordance with the petition guidelines," she said.

"There are also matters that require a high-level political judgment or that we do not respond to," she said. "Petitions are not posted for 30 days to collect support. Once the requirements for support are met, we are obligated to respond, and after the response is complete, the topic is taken down."

Regarding criticism of the cuts to her official business expenses, Governor Choo explained, "The budgets for bureau chief-level officials were cut by 20%, while those for the governor and deputy governors were cut by 10% because they have many duties to perform as heads of the organization. The budget for policy-related business expenses was cut by 20%."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.