Korea
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Boo Seung-chan's fire budget remarks spark controversy at Gyeonggi audit
Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan sparked controversy on the 19th by likening the fire service budget to a drain on public finances during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province.
Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan sparked controversy with remarks about the fire service budget during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province on the 19th. Boo asked whether the fire service budget was draining public finances.
Boo claimed that local governments bear about 90% of personnel and support costs despite firefighters having national civil servant status. Referring to that burden, he asked whether it was draining public finances.
Boo said, in essence, that criticism alone offered no answer if the issue could not be resolved at the national level. He added that Gyeonggi Province needed to make sufficient efforts to explain and persuade, and that it had made mistakes.
People Power Party lawmaker Kim Eun-hye criticized the language, saying the fire service budget should not be described that way at an audit on the day of the funeral ceremony for a firefighter who died fighting the Bucheon fire. She also objected to similar language following Governor Choo's earlier remarks.
In response, Boo explained that he had intended to ask whether the National Assembly also bore responsibility after firefighters were given national civil servant status. He countered that criticism of his remarks was being used for partisan conflict.
As People Power Party lawmakers protested, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties exchanged raised voices. The audit was temporarily suspended.
Earlier, Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae sparked controversy at the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province on the 13th by describing the fire service as a financial burden. At the time, she likened it to the most troublesome straw sucking up public funds.
Before the audit began that day, Choo apologized to firefighters hurt by her recent remarks. She said she took their dedication seriously and would pay closer attention to their safety and working conditions.