[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, announced that he would recommend the dismissal of Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi, holding her responsible for the failure of real estate policies. Regarding Park Ji-won, the nominee for the National Intelligence Service (NIS) director, he criticized, saying it would "ruin the NIS."
On the 7th, Joo appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyung-jung's News Show' and said, "Everything has been judged a failure, so we should not keep someone who says 'things are going well'."
This appears to be a criticism of Park's statement on the 30th of last month during the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee meeting, where he responded to independent lawmaker Lee Yong-ho's questioning about the failure of the June 17 policy by saying, "So far, the policies are all working comprehensively."
He criticized the Moon administration's real estate policy, saying, "The goals, methods, and timing were all wrong, and during the three years of this administration, real estate prices have risen by 52%. However, now they say they will raise the comprehensive real estate tax again and increase transaction taxes, but if people have properties, they should be encouraged to sell them. Raising transaction taxes to prevent sales is a policy that doesn't make sense."
Joo said, "This administration has already raised the comprehensive real estate tax once and also increased the tax base within three years. Despite raising the tax base and the comprehensive real estate tax, it hasn't been effective, so raising the comprehensive real estate tax again is a completely illogical policy, and Minister Kim should be replaced quickly."
Regarding changes in the security line, he said, "I believe the inter-Korean relations pursued by this administration over the past three years have completely collapsed. Therefore, the direction should change, but it seems they have appointed people who are even more favored by North Korea than those who have been working so far," criticizing, "I think nominating Park as the NIS director is very wrong."
Joo stated, "The National Intelligence Service of the Republic of Korea is the country's top intelligence agency, and this agency is not for conducting inter-Korean dialogue or negotiations with North Korea. So, this is ruining the NIS," adding, "Negotiations with North Korea should be handled by the Minister of Unification, and the NIS is an agency that must thoroughly understand North Korea's detailed movements and intentions. The very idea of appointing someone 'who knows North Korea well' contradicts the purpose of establishing the NIS."
He said, "If Park were the Minister of Unification, that might be understandable, but as the head of the country's top intelligence agency responsible for gathering the best intelligence on North Korea, he is not suitable as the leader," while also expressing a reserved stance by saying, "I will listen to and evaluate Minister of Unification Lee In-young's policies regarding his views on North Korea and how to lead inter-Korean relations, which the nominee also holds."
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