Gyeonggi Province Cuts Budget for Fallen Firefighters' Memorial Amid Choo Mi-ae's "Fiscal Burden" Controversy

The controversy surrounding Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae's remark characterizing firefighting finances as a "fiscal burden" is expanding to include budget cuts for firefighting equipment and a complete elimination of funding for fallen firefighters' memorial programs.

According to Gyeonggi Province and political circles as of the 17th, the People Power Party's Gyeonggi Province chapter stated in a press release the previous day that the province reduced the budget for firefighting vehicle reinforcement by 2.65 billion won in its latest supplementary budget and scaled back vehicle purchase plans from 103 units to 78 units.

This represents a reduction of 25 units (24.3%) from the original plan. The Gyeonggi Province Assembly's Committee on Safety and Administration also expressed concern during its review of the supplementary budget about delays in replacing aging fire trucks and a contraction in investment for on-site response capabilities.

The 100 million won budget for the "Gyeonggi Firefighting 119 Memorial Day" program to honor fallen firefighters was also completely eliminated. The program, first launched last year, is an event where bereaved families, fellow firefighters, and residents come together to commemorate the sacrifices of fallen members. The province originally announced it would establish this as a permanent annual flagship memorial project, but after only one year, the dedicated budget became a target for cuts.

The United Firefighters' Labor Union argued that while discretionary programs can be adjusted according to financial conditions, the same standard should not be applied to honoring fallen members and honoring bereaved families, and called for budget restoration.

The province explained that the original budget included 70 million won in outsourced service costs and planned events such as a 30-truck firefighting vehicle cavalcade, which is why discretionary spending was reduced. The province stated it will proceed with the memorial event scheduled for the 24th as planned using the Fire Service Headquarters' administrative management budget and ensure no disruption to bereaved family benefits.

These budget cuts were included in the supplementary budget compiled before Governor Choo's remarks at the National Assembly inspection. However, as details of the budget reductions have been publicized following her characterization of the firefighting budget as a local financial burden, controversy over the province's firefighting finance management has grown.

Governor Choo previously stated at the National Assembly's Special Inspection Committee on Administration and Safety on October 13 that "firefighting is the most troublesome fiscal burden," while explaining the need for expanded state funding for firefighting budgets.

She argued that despite firefighters being converted to national civil servants, the province must bear approximately 1.7 trillion won in firefighting costs—including 1.1 trillion won in personnel expenses and approximately 500 billion won in project costs based on 2027 figures—while state funding accounts for only approximately 9 percent.

The province explained its remarks were intended to point out the financial structure in which local governments bear most firefighting costs even after the conversion to national civil servants. However, firefighters' labor unions are demanding a direct apology, citing damage to the honor and pride of field personnel.

The United Firefighters' Civil Servants' Labor Union has continued a one-person protest in front of the Gyeonggi Province Government Office since October 15, and the Democratic Party of Korea issued a written briefing under the name of Spokesman Lee Yong-woo on October 16, offering a formal apology to firefighters and their families.

However, Governor Choo has yet to make a direct statement. When asked about the matter by reporters on October 16, she reportedly avoided answering by saying, "Don't mention that."

The People Power Party's Gyeonggi Province chapter urged the governor to "apologize to firefighters and take responsibility for safety through substantive budgets and policies," and called on the province to present complementary measures to address the scaled-back vehicle purchase plan and expansion plans for on-site safety investment.