Jeong Jeomsik: "Kim Minseok, who abuses his power, is demanding an apology from 'Straw' Chu? ... A farce"

People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeomsik said Tuesday, “At a time when the ‘Chu-Seok siblings’—Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae and Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok—should be performing the three-steps-one-bow ritual and asking for forgiveness, Kim is unilaterally demanding an apology from Governor Chu,” calling it “a farce.”

Jeong Jeom-sik, floor leader of the People Power Party, delivers opening remarks at a meeting on parliamentary audit preparations at the National Assembly on Oct. 20, 2026. Photo by Yoon Dongju.

Jeong made the remarks while attending a meeting on preparations for the parliamentary audit at the National Assembly on Tuesday morning. “Kim has been embroiled in controversies over abuse of power day after day. Governor Chu’s outrageous remarks belittling firefighters and Kim’s abuse of firefighters are equally disrespectful,” he said.

Referring to Kim’s recent visit to Gangseo Fire Station, Jeong said, “At the ungodly hour of 5 a.m., firefighters who should have been sleeping and resting were woken up and gathered together just to take a single photo.” He added, “It would not be an exaggeration to say their rest was siphoned away. This was clearly an abuse of power.”

Jeong also criticized the vehicle Kim rode in for parking in a space reserved for emergency patients during a visit to the funeral home of the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok. “It was an unauthorized occupation of a space meant for emergency patients,” he said. “While paying respects to a firefighter who died in the line of duty protecting the public, he caused inconvenience to emergency patients whose lives were actually in danger.”

On Kim’s demand that Governor Chu apologize for her “straw sucking up the fire budget” remark, Jeong said, “Kim goes around abusing his power and then demands an apology from Governor Chu.” He added, “As the public’s anger grows over the government and ruling party’s various acts of tyranny and policy failures, the ruling party leader is adding fuel to the fire.”

Jeong also addressed Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan’s remark during the parliamentary audit that “the firefighting budget is sucking up public funds at an alarming rate.” “The Democratic Party should impose its most severe disciplinary measures on Governor Chu and Representative Boo,” he said. “The People Power Party will establish a task force to ensure firefighters are treated with respect and strengthen the firefighting budget.”

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