President Moon: "We Will Continuously Announce Real Estate Measures"

Blue House New Year's Press Conference "We Will Firmly Control Real Estate" Pledge... Criticism of Personnel Process Backtracking Amid Prosecutor Controversy

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in pledged on the 14th at the New Year's press conference held at the Blue House State Guest House that "if the government judges that the current measures have fully taken effect, it will continuously introduce stronger measures" regarding real estate issues, adding, "During our administration, we will definitely get real estate under control."

President Moon explained, "It is the right direction to strengthen property taxes and lower transaction taxes," and said, "We are actually strengthening property taxes." However, he added that lowering transaction taxes immediately is difficult because easing them could affect local government finances.

After announcing real estate measures, President Moon said, "There could be other effects such as a balloon effect where housing prices under 900 million won rise, or real estate purchase demand turning into jeonse demand causing jeonse prices to increase, so we will closely monitor those aspects."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the labor union's opposition to the appointment of Yoon Jong-won as the new president of IBK Industrial Bank, President Moon stated, "It is not right to veto him just because he is not from within the bank," and argued, "He has worked in the economic and financial sectors and has no shortcomings in his career, including serving as the IMF Executive Director while being the Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs."

President Moon delivered a clear message concerning the recent controversies involving Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl in personnel matters. He said, "Just as prosecutorial investigative authority must be respected, so must the personnel authority of the minister and the president," and added, "The idea that the minister must first show the personnel plan to receive opinions is contrary to the personnel process." He particularly criticized, "If such a thing happened, it would be an exercise of extralegal power and authority."

However, President Moon drew a line by saying, "The Prosecutor General must take the lead not only in investigative practices but also in changing organizational culture," and "I do not want to evaluate Prosecutor General Yoon based on a single case."

President Moon did not hide his disappointment regarding political realities. He said, "Everyone says the livelihood economy is difficult, so we should join hands and put our heads together," and sharply criticized, "Saying the livelihood economy is difficult in words but actually hoping the government fails, and not working, is unacceptable."

Regarding the 21st general election on April 15, President Moon expressed, "I hope political culture will change through the next general election," emphasizing, "The importance of bipartisan consultation is a task we keenly feel while observing this National Assembly."

Furthermore, on the issue of a cooperative cabinet, which has become a political topic, President Moon said, "After the next general election, if there are opposition figures who can join the cabinet, we will make efforts to work together."

He added, "Because this is different from a coalition government in a parliamentary system, it would be difficult to allocate seats uniformly by party or assign a certain number of seats to a specific party."