[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Kim Doo-kwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the United Future Party, which opposes the government's real estate policy, saying, "The main culprit of the skyrocketing housing prices is the United Future Party, and the beneficiaries of the capital gains are the United Future Party lawmakers."
On the 29th, citing an MBC report on Facebook, Rep. Kim said, "Housing prices in the metropolitan area began to rise in the latter half of the Park Geun-hye administration," and "The cause was the so-called 'Gangnam Privilege 3 Acts,' the three real estate laws led and passed by the Saenuri Party at the end of 2014."
He explained, "(The relevant bills) allowed construction companies to freely set sale prices, enabled union members owning one old house to increase up to three houses, and did not allow the recovery of development profits," adding, "The passage of these laws marked the beginning of the housing price surge originating from Gangnam."
Rep. Kim criticized, "Three United Future Party lawmakers earned 1.9 billion KRW, 1.1 billion KRW, and 700 million KRW respectively from real estate. But this is nothing," and said, "Joo Ho-young, the United Future Party floor leader who criticized the government, earned as much as 2.3 billion KRW. While making a fortune from housing prices behind the scenes, he sold out the common people with his words."
He continued, "There is even a lawmaker who earned 7.3 billion KRW over six years. The case of Park Deok-heum, a United Future Party lawmaker, physically demonstrated why the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee is described as flowing with milk and honey," emphasizing the point.
Rep. Kim added, "The United Future Party is originally a party representing the interests of multi-homeowners, so I can understand that. However, it is basic courtesy to stop shifting the responsibility for the housing price surge they caused onto the current government."
He also urged multi-homeowners among Democratic Party lawmakers and senior officials to quickly dispose of their properties. He said, "I request the three party leader candidates participating in the primary election. Let Democratic Party multi-homeowners keep only one house as pledged when applying for nomination and dispose of all others by the end of the year," adding, "Only then will the Democratic Party's housing policy have at least some legitimacy."
Rep. Kim emphasized, "If we are not upright, it is embarrassing to blame others. No one will believe you if you try to control real estate without first cutting out your own flesh."
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