Reportage "Choo Mi-ae's Resignation," "Impeachment," "Recall"...Children's Day Saved After Venting Frustration

"If you're going to do this, impeach her! They said it's possible after one year. We can start preparing now"

Around 10:55 a.m. on the 12th in the third-floor lobby of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly. When news arrived that the plenary session had been postponed to 4 p.m., voices among the residents waiting to observe began calling for a recall election against Governor Choo Mi-ae.

"How are we supposed to respond if they make a reservation and then arbitrarily postpone it?"

"How can they harass us like this over something being given to children."

They were kindergarten officials and residents from the province who had come to the provincial assembly to monitor the budget issues related to kindergartens. Since early morning they had waited for the plenary session to begin, but the sudden postponement announcement drew complaints. Some demanded Governor Choo's resignation, while others argued that a recall should be prepared.

As late as 10:30 a.m. that morning, there was great expectation that the budget would pass. Reporters began entering the plenary hall observation area one by one, and by 10:50 a.m., residents who had applied to observe had flooded in, crowding the third-floor lobby.

The atmosphere changed just five minutes later. Reporters who had even set up camera tripods in the observation area began coming back out. News had arrived that the 11 a.m. plenary session had been postponed to 4 p.m.

Around noon, the sound of a drum began echoing in front of Gate No. 2 of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Building.

A rally calling for Governor Choo's resignation had begun preparations. Toward those who returned after lunch to the provincial government and assembly offices, chants of "Choo Mi-ae, resign" continued. Those who passed by were also met with complaints of "Do your jobs properly" directed at provincial assembly members from the Democratic Party.

Beginning at 1 p.m., the rally featured statement announcements and chanting. The participants, who identified themselves as Democratic Party members, argued that Governor Choo's voluntary resignation, the Democratic Party's emergency disciplinary measures, and a recall election against Governor Choo were necessary.

The "recall election" that some spectators had raised in the provincial assembly lobby earlier in the morning appeared again at the rally in front of the provincial government after noon.

While slogans for Governor Choo's resignation continued in front of the provincial government, residents waiting for the plenary session continued to arrive at the provincial assembly.

Around 3:30 p.m., the third-floor lobby of the provincial assembly was filled with even more people than in the morning. Despite one meeting postponement, residents had not left their seats and gathered again.

Around 3:50 p.m., people waiting to enter the plenary hall formed a long line.

Kang Won-mi, chairwoman of the Gyeonggi Province Kindergarten Association, reconfirmed her position that she would continue fighting if all demands were not reflected.

However, just five minutes later at 3:55 p.m., news arrived that the plenary session had been postponed again to 5 p.m.

"Is she going to do it or not?"

"5 p.m.? This is really frustrating."

Among the spectators who had been waiting since morning, protests erupted once again.

Around 4:40 p.m., when news arrived that the plenary session had been postponed again to 6 p.m., sighs escaped from all around.

"Sigh, if it's like this, don't do it. Why keep postponing?"

The spectators had made reservations knowing the session was at 11 a.m. and arrived on time, but the meeting was repeatedly postponed from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and then to 6 p.m.

As the lobby became crowded, the assembly secretariat allowed residents to enter the observation area.

While residents waited, conflicts continued in the provincial assembly over the supplementary budget bill.

Around 4:57 p.m., the People Power Party held a press conference and objected, stating that a new adjustment plan of around 20 billion won had been presented instead of the 42.9 billion won civil livelihood budget restoration plan agreed upon by both parties.

Bang Seong-hwan, floor leader of the People Power Party, said "42.9 billion won is not reckless patronage spending but a minimum contingency to prevent damage to childcare, welfare, and civil livelihood," urging acceptance of the original proposal. He also argued that communication between the executive branch and the assembly had not been properly maintained.

Around 5:15 p.m., People Power Party members visited the spectators who had been waiting for the long plenary session.

Among the spectators, the words "We are waiting so long" were heard. The People Power members bowed their heads apologizing to the spectators, saying "We're sorry."

Around 5:48 p.m., news arrived that the plenary session had been postponed again to 7 p.m.

"What? Again? Really? Ah, this is driving me crazy."

"They're telling us to leave. This means they're not going to do it."

Protests and sighs poured out once again among the spectators. The plenary session scheduled for 11 a.m. had been postponed four times to 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m.

This time, sighs escaped even among the reporters.

"Sigh...how am I supposed to handle my deadline, really."

"Should I go eat?"

Reporters who had been on standby since morning to cover the plenary results were also stuck by the repeated schedule changes. Their article deadlines were approaching, yet it was unclear when the meeting would even start.

Around 5:50 p.m., spectators tired from waiting since morning were sharing candies and chocolates to ease their hunger.

Around 6 p.m., Democratic Party members began a members' general meeting, and senior provincial government officials began entering the plenary hall.

When Assembly Speaker Nam Jong-seop appeared in the plenary hall around 6:10 p.m., opinions among the spectators emerged saying "Let's at least bow and make eye contact." It appeared that the residents who had been waiting since morning wanted to directly alert the speaker to their presence.

Around 6:15 p.m., provincial assembly members entered the plenary hall one after another.

Around 6:16 p.m., as Democratic Party members entered, People Power Party members engaged in chanting. "Governor Choo Mi-ae, accept the civil livelihood budget restoration!"

Around 6:19 p.m., People Power Party members also entered the plenary hall. One minute later, Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education An Min-seok also entered.

The opening ceremony began at 6:22 p.m., and the plenary session finally convened at 6:25 p.m.

The meeting scheduled for 11 a.m. had started approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes late.

At 6:31 p.m., the 2026 Second Supplementary Budget Bill for Gyeonggi Province was submitted. Then, around 6:37 p.m., a report was announced that 2.7 billion won in kindergarten-related budget had been increased.

This included 500 million won for support for extended-hours kindergarten operations, 1 billion won for teacher/staff treatment improvements, 600 million won for kindergarten operations support, 300 million won for infant childcare and education program support, and 300 million won for operations support for 0-2 year old kindergartens. It was precisely the budget that spectators had been waiting for since morning.

Around 6:39 p.m., Bang Seong-hwan, floor leader of the People Power Party, took the floor for procedural remarks. Floor Leader Bang demanded clarification on how the civil livelihood budget restoration amount had been reduced from 42.9 billion won to 21.7 billion won and raised questions about the procedural legitimacy of the budget processing.

When Floor Leader Bang's remarks concluded around 6:43 p.m., applause and cheers came from the observation area.

Then, around 6:44 p.m., when Governor Choo agreed to the modified supplementary budget, the People Power Party objected.

"On what basis did you agree? You wouldn't have had time to review the materials you received today, so how can you agree?"

Around 6:45 p.m., the supplementary budget passed with 108 votes in favor, 20 against, and 7 abstentions among 135 members present. The 21.7 billion won civil livelihood budget restoration plan included all 2.7 billion won in kindergarten-related budget.

Although the budget passed, objections from the People Power Party continued.

Around 6:47 p.m., as Governor Choo began to make remarks following the budget decision, one People Power Party member questioned her, saying "Is this an assembly?"

People Power Party members left the plenary hall, and around 6:49 p.m., they resumed chanting outside the chamber.

While the supplementary budget had been processed inside the plenary hall, opposition to the budget processing procedures continued outside the door.

Around 6:55 p.m., the adjournment of the plenary session was announced.

"Thank you."

Applause erupted from the observation area. They were residents who had been waiting since morning for the kindergarten budget restoration. Those who had vented protests and sighs over the repeated meeting postponements this time offered applause and thanks.

With the budget passing, the Gyeonggi Province Kindergarten Association decided not to take any additional group action.

After the plenary session adjourned, Association Chairwoman Kang Won-mi said, "If the budget had not passed today, we had planned to hold a large-scale rally on the 20th," adding "Since all 2.7 billion won has been reflected, there will be no additional group action."

However, she expressed concerns about next year's budget.

Chairwoman Kang said, "There is talk that next year's budget will be more difficult," and "I will continue communicating with provincial government and assembly committee members to see how it is reflected in next year's budget before making future plans."

The four-day group action ended tentatively with the restoration of the 2.7 billion won kindergarten budget.

Spectators who had maintained their presence at the provincial assembly since morning began leaving one by one.

In the elevator heading down to the first floor to return visitor passes, voices mixing relief and concern were heard.

"I really want these things to stop now"

"Nothing really changed, did it?"

"Next year's budget, they said there won't be any increases…"

They were those who had come to the provincial assembly from morning to protect a budget that had been without issue until September. They returned in the evening with news of budget restoration, but their conversation had already shifted to next year's budget and the difficulties of kindergarten operations.

After waiting more than eight hours, this year's budget was saved, but the uncertainty surrounding kindergarten operations had not disappeared.