250 Straws Delivered to Choo Mi-ae's Office... Comedian Takes Aim at 'Fire Service Budget Straw' Remark

Comedian Lee Sangmin sends straws to Choo Mi-ae's office
Takes aim at her remark: "Fire services are a troublesome drain on the budget"
People Power Party: "Governor Choo's apology was arrogant to the end"

A comedian has drawn attention by sending straws to the office of Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, who sparked controversy with her remark about “siphoning off fire service funds.”

Comedian Lee Sang-min ordered 250 straws to the office of Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, who sparked controversy with her remark about “sucking up fire department funds.” Facebook

Lee Sangmin, a comedian and current-affairs satire creator, revealed on social media on October 17 that he had ordered straws and designated the governor’s office at Gyeonggi Provincial Government as the delivery address. They came in five packs of 50, for a total of 250 straws.

In the post, Lee wrote, “There is a governor of Gyeonggi Province who says, ‘Fire services are a major drain on the budget.’ Despite being widely criticized with questions like, ‘How could she say such a thing?’ she never apologized.” He added, “Instead, her party is stepping in to apologize. It’s a more bitterly funny and horrific reality than comedy.” He also expressed his condolences for the firefighter who died in the line of duty at the fire in Bucheon, writing, “The firefighter who fought the flames has ultimately died in the line of duty. May he rest in peace.”

“A troublesome drain on the budget”… Choo’s controversial remark at parliamentary audit

The controversial remark was made on October 13 during the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee audit of Gyeonggi Province. Asked about funding for the fire service budget, Governor Choo replied, “The fire service seems to be the biggest and most troublesome drain on the budget,” adding, “Personnel costs alone will take up 1.1 trillion won in 2027, and project costs are around 500 billion won.”

Gyeonggi Province issued an explanation the following day. It said the governor had intended to emphasize that although firefighters had become national government employees, local governments still bear most of the related costs, while the share of funding from the national treasury has actually declined. The province said, “Fire services are essential to protecting the lives, safety, and property of the public,” adding, “We will work to secure stable funding for fire services.”

Firefighters turn their backs… Criticism continues despite apology at funeral

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae speaks on the 17th in front of the funeral altar at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital for Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty while responding to a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap News

Opposition from firefighters continued. The Firefighters Division of the Korean Government Employees’ Union demanded an apology, saying the remark “tarnished firefighters’ honor.” On October 16, while Governor Choo visited the site of the factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, to encourage firefighters, those at the scene stood with their backs turned. When reporters asked for her position on the “budgetary straw” remark, Governor Choo replied, “Let’s not talk about that.”

Criticism intensified after a firefighter involved in putting out the fire died the following day. The late Kim Jinseok, 44, was a fire lieutenant assigned to the Ojeong 119 Safety Center of the Bucheon Fire Station. At around 8:38 a.m. on October 16, he was dispatched as part of the first response team after a report of a fire at a paint factory in Ojeong-gu, Bucheon. He was seriously injured while fighting the fire and was taken to the hospital, where he died at around 12:55 a.m. on October 17. The National Fire Agency decided to posthumously promote him one rank, from fire sergeant to fire lieutenant, and support his burial at the Seoul National Cemetery. President Lee Jae-myung, who visited the funeral home on October 17, posthumously awarded him the Order of Service Merit, Jade Stripes. The funeral will be held under the auspices of Gyeonggi Provincial Government, with Governor Choo serving as chair of the funeral committee.

After paying her respects at Kim’s funeral on October 17, Governor Choo apologized, saying, “I deeply regret it if my remarks were conveyed differently from what I intended.” However, Park Seong-hun, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized her, saying, “Governor Choo’s apology was arrogant to the end,” and, “Immediately after apologizing, she went on at length with excuses for herself. The funeral home of a firefighter who died in the line of duty is not a place for Governor Choo to air her grievances.”

Lee’s straw order remained in place the day after Governor Choo’s apology. On October 18, Lee wrote on social media, “I hastily considered canceling the delivery [after Governor Choo’s apology], but it’s hard to see it as a sincere apology.”

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