President Moon: "The Top Livelihood Issue is 'Real Estate'... Additional Measures Coming Soon"

Opening Remarks at the Blue House Senior Secretary and Secretary Meeting

No Young-min, Chief of Staff to the President (left), is listening to President Moon Jae-in's remarks at the senior secretaries and aides meeting held at the Blue House on the afternoon of the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in said on the 6th, "The top priority for people's livelihood is real estate measures," adding, "We will strongly promote measures to stabilize housing for ordinary citizens and young people." He also announced that the government would soon announce additional measures.

On the same day, President Moon presided over a senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House and said in his opening remarks, "Globally, liquidity is at an all-time high and interest rates are at an all-time low. The government will do its best to curb real estate speculation and protect actual demand."

He then appealed to the National Assembly, saying, "The 12.16 measures announced last year, the recent 6.17 measures, and the upcoming additional government measures must be promptly supported by legislation in the National Assembly to be effective," requesting cooperation.

This statement came amid turbulent public opinion on real estate following the announcement of the 6.17 measures, and public sentiment sharply deteriorated after Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, who was a multi-homeowner, recently chose to sell his house in Cheongju, his electoral district, and keep his house in Banpo, Gangnam. After receiving an emergency report from Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi on the 2nd, President Moon also instructed, "If supplementary measures are needed, do not hesitate to create additional measures at any time."

Furthermore, regarding the third supplementary budget, the largest ever passed by the National Assembly in March, President Moon said, "Although it was later than the government's hope, it is a great relief that it was processed within the session of the June extraordinary National Assembly," and added, "We will execute it without any negligence." He continued, "As of the end of June, the first supplementary budget has been executed at 92.3%, and the second supplementary budget, which includes disaster relief funds, at 96%, showing a very high execution rate," emphasizing, "I hope the third supplementary budget will also be executed swiftly in active cooperation with local governments." He also requested active promotion of the supplementary budget contents to the public and businesses.

Regarding the July extraordinary National Assembly session that began that day, he said, "Although the 21st National Assembly faced difficulties at its launch, I hope the demands of the people for cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties and for the National Assembly to operate normally from now on will not be ignored," and urged, "During this difficult time of the COVID-19 national crisis, we must look to the people, join hands, and cooperate rather than emphasize small differences for quarantine, economy, and people's livelihood."

Along with this, President Moon said, "For the long-awaited High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Gongsa) to be launched legally in July, there are many matters that the National Assembly must decide, including the appointment of the Gongsa chief," adding, "We have formally requested the National Assembly to recommend candidates for the Gongsa chief according to procedures, but it is already significantly delayed. I urge you not to delay any further and to hold candidate recommendations and confirmation hearings within the deadline."