Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
Gyeonggi governor vows to pursue national funding for firefighters' salaries
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae vowed to tackle firefighter salary costs despite political criticism.
The dispute followed her description of the fire service as a major strain on the province’s finances, a phrase she said was inappropriate and for which she apologized again.
Choo said she wants the national government to cover all firefighter personnel costs, and argued that political attacks will not solve the funding issue.
She said Gyeonggi’s available budget for next year is about 1 trillion won lower than in previous years.
The province plans to prioritize life, safety, vulnerable people and livelihoods in its budget, while consulting the provincial council.
Choo also rejected claims that a proposed reorganization would weaken labor-related work, saying the importance of necessary duties would not decline.
She said the province is pursuing changes to the local tax system to strengthen its finances.
Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae said she would pursue national funding to cover firefighters’ salaries, even if doing so brought political backlash.
She said the state should eventually pay the full cost of firefighters’ salaries.
Choo apologized again for describing fire service finances with a phrase that drew criticism.
She said the province’s fiscal constraints had forced a difficult choice between essential safety and welfare spending.
She also said next year’s provincial budget would prioritize life, safety, vulnerable groups and people’s livelihoods.
- Who
- Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae.
- What
- She vowed to seek national funding for firefighters’ salaries and said the state should eventually cover the full cost.
- When
- Choo spoke in an interview on Oct. 23, 2026. The article was published on Oct. 25.
- Where
- Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
- Why
- She said the province faced fiscal constraints and that firefighters’ salaries were a major financial burden.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Choo Mi-ae gave an interview to Yonhap and discussed firefighters’ salaries and provincial finances.
Yonhap published the interview.
- Governor
- Choo Mi-ae
- Province
- Gyeonggi
- Interview date
- Oct. 23, 2026
- Article publication date
- Oct. 25, 2026
- Salary funding goal
- National government to cover firefighters’ salaries in full
- Next year’s budget priorities
- Life, safety, vulnerable groups and people’s livelihoods
1 source
What people are saying
Even if I am politically burned at the stake, I am determined that appropriate reform be made to address this issue our society has ignored.
I apologize again.
I think the state should take responsibility for firefighters’ salaries in full.