'Firefighter Finance Straw' Case Against Choo Mi-ae Transferred to Police... Serious Crimes Unit Excludes Case from Investigation

The case against Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae regarding her controversial remarks about the "firefighter finance straw" has been transferred from the Serious Crimes Investigation Division to the police.

According to legal sources on the 28th, the Seoul Regional Serious Crimes Investigation Division transferred the case to the Gyeonggi South Police Agency on the 23rd after the civic group Ordinary Citizens' Livelihood Countermeasures Committee filed a complaint against Governor Choo on allegations of abuse of authority, obstruction of duty, and defamation.

The Ordinary Citizens' Committee submitted the complaint on the 19th, and the Serious Crimes Division assigned the case to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau on the 21st before transferring it to police just two days later.

The Serious Crimes Division determined that the case does not constitute a serious crime under the Serious Crimes Investigation Division Act, according to reports.

The controversy began at the National Assembly's Administration and Safety Committee audit on Gyeonggi Province on the 13th. At that time, Governor Choo explained the reality that local governments bear a significant portion of salaries for firefighters who were converted to national civil servants, comparing firefighting to a "financial straw."

When asked to apologize at the memorial hall of the late Fire Captain Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty in a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province on the 17th, Governor Choo said, "Since you ask for an apology, I sincerely apologize with all my heart," which sparked further controversy over the sincerity of the apology.

The Ordinary Citizens' Committee argued that Governor Choo's remarks and apology damaged the honor and pride of firefighters and urged an investigation.

Governor Choo subsequently apologized again at the National Assembly audit on the 19th, and on the 20th personally met with officials from the National Civil Service Union's Firefighting Bureau and bowed. The Democratic Party also issued a warning measure to Governor Choo and Rep. Boo Seung-chan, who made related remarks, on the 21st.

While acknowledging the inappropriateness of her remarks, Governor Choo has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of improving the firefighting financial structure.

Governor Choo stated that of the 1 trillion 197.3 billion won in salaries for Gyeonggi Province firefighters this year, national support accounts for only 7.7%, and demanded the expansion of the state's fiscal responsibility. Her remarks on the 25th that she would resolve the firefighting financial issue even at the cost of political criticism also sparked controversy.