Gyeonggi Gov. Choo apologizes again over remarks criticized as disparaging firefighters

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae apologized again Monday over her controversial remarks describing firefighters as a "fiscal drain" after her earlier apology, seen as lacking sincerity, drew public backlash. "I sincerely apologize to all firefighters who were hurt by my recent remarks," Choo said during a parliamentary audit of the Gyeonggi provincial government at the local government's office in Suwon, south of Seoul. "I value the dedication of firefighters more than anyone else," she said, vowing to pay closer attention to their safety and working conditions. Choo has been at the center of controversy since referring to the firefighting service as the biggest "headache" and "fiscal drain" for local governments during a parliamentary audit last Tuesday. Choo first apologized on Saturday, four days after making the remarks, following the death of a firefighter who was responding to a factory fire in Bucheon, west of Seoul. Her apology, however, drew further criticism for appearing to lack sincerity. "If my remarks were conveyed in a way I did not intend, I offer deep regrets, and since y