SCIA Refers Case Against Choo Miae over 'Fire Service Budget Drain' Remark to Police

Complaint alleging abuse of authority and defamation
Seoul Regional SCIA: “Determined they do not constitute serious crimes”

The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) has referred to police the case involving Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, who was reported over her so-called “fire service budget drain” remark.

Choo Miae, governor of Gyeonggi Province, comforts the bereaved family and sheds tears before the hearse departs from Bucheon Gymnasium in Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, where the funeral for the late Fire Officer Kim Jinseok was held on the 19th. Yonhap News.

According to legal sources on October 28, the Seoul Regional Serious Crimes Investigation Agency recently transferred the case against Governor Choo, who was accused of abuse of authority and defamation, to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency.

Governor Choo sparked controversy on October 13 when she said during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee’s parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province, “The fire service seems to be the biggest and most troublesome drain on the budget.”

The controversy continued after she said on October 17 at the wake for the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty in a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, “Since you want an apology, I sincerely apologize with all my heart.”

The civic group Citizens’ Coalition for People’s Livelihood Countermeasures filed a complaint with the SCIA on October 19, citing Governor Choo’s remarks and accusing her of abuse of authority and defamation.

The Seoul Regional Serious Crimes Investigation Agency assigned the case to its Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau for review, but reportedly concluded that it did not fall under the agency’s investigative jurisdiction and that it would be appropriate for the police to investigate. An agency official explained, “We determined that defamation and abuse of authority do not constitute serious crimes.”

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