Democratic Party Issues Warning to Choo Miae and Bu Seungchan... "No Further Action, Including Ethics Inspection Unit Referral, Expected"

Democratic Party Supreme Council agrees to issue warnings
Party to push for greater central government responsibility for firefighting budget

The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to issue a “warning” to Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae and Assemblyman Bu Seung-chan, who made controversial remarks while criticizing issues with the firefighting budget.

Cho Gye-won, the Democratic Party’s spokesperson, told reporters after the party’s Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Oct. 21 that “the members of the closed-door Supreme Council meeting agreed to issue a warning to Governor Choo and Assemblyman Bu,” adding, “We urge them to engage in serious reflection and prevent a recurrence.” He continued, “The Democratic Party once again apologizes to firefighters and the public,” and said, “We will do our best to improve the system to ensure firefighters’ safety and improve their working conditions.”

Kim Minseok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivers opening remarks at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 21st. 2026.10.21 Photo by Yoon Dongju

No additional action appears likely beyond the warning. “There will be no separate referral to the Ethics Inspection Unit,” Cho said. “The decision regarding Assemblyman Bu, who had already been referred to the unit, was a warning.” The Ethics Inspection Unit had also recommended a warning for Assemblyman Bu. The differing treatment prompted questions about fairness: Assemblyman Bu was referred to the unit shortly after his remarks came to light, while no follow-up action was taken against Governor Choo beyond calls for an apology.

On Oct. 13, Governor Choo said during the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee audit of Gyeonggi Province that “firefighting seems to be the biggest, most troublesome ‘fiscal drain.’” On Oct. 19, while defending Governor Choo’s remarks during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee’s audit of Gyeonggi Province, Assemblyman Bu said, “Around 90% of firefighters’ personnel expenses and related support costs are for national civil servants, yet local governments bear the costs. Isn’t this really draining local finances?”

Governor Choo and Assemblyman Bu apologized for their remarks through social media and other channels.

In response to the controversy, the Democratic Party decided to push for greater central government responsibility for firefighting. At the Supreme Council meeting on Oct. 21, Supreme Council member Jeon Yong-gi said in his public remarks, “The central government’s fiscal responsibility must be strengthened, and regional disparities in working conditions must be addressed.” He added, “The government must take responsibility for providing firefighters with the equipment and safety systems needed to protect their lives,” and said, “If firefighters protect the public, the government must protect firefighters.”

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