"I am a tenant" Yoon Hee-sook's '5-minute speech on the 3 Lease Laws' sparks controversy
"Monthly rent is not bad" Democratic Party launches 'Yoon Hee-sook attack'
Public backlash grows "Have you ever lived on monthly rent?" "Low-income monthly rent burden is heavy"
Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the United Future Party, is speaking out against the Lease Protection Act at the National Assembly plenary session on the 30th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As citizens' voices opposing the government's real estate regulation policies grow louder, praise continues for Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the Future United Party, who criticized the three lease laws with her '5-minute real estate speech.' While Democratic Party lawmakers criticized Yoon's remarks that 'Jeonse (long-term lease) is disappearing' and launched an attack on her, they have instead faced a backlash.
Citizens raised their voices in criticism, saying there is a "lack of understanding of the lives of ordinary people." They pointed out that there is insufficient understanding of reality and a failure to empathize with the increased burden on ordinary citizens due to failed real estate policies. At the same time, they criticized Democratic Party lawmakers through comments on SNS and portal sites, held rallies, and continued protests.
Yoon Hee-sook, a former economist and member of the Future United Party, expressed opposition to the three lease laws during a 5-minute free speech at the National Assembly plenary session in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 30th of last month. Yoon opened her speech by saying, "I am a tenant," and stated, "I thought, 'After four years, I will inevitably have to move into a monthly rent,' and 'Now, there will be no more Jeonse.' The moment landlords become afraid to rent out their houses, the market collapses."
She continued, "The Jeonse system is already on the path to extinction, but many people prefer Jeonse. Because of this law, the Jeonse system is inevitably entering a rapid path to extinction, causing confusion for many people. The Jeonse crisis has already begun," and strongly criticized, "With what kind of audacity and arrogance do they make such a law without proper review?"
She further pointed out, "Those who made this law, and the Democratic Party, which proceeded with the process without detailed examination in the standing committee, will be remembered for a long time in the history of Jeonse, real estate policy, and the lives of the people in our country."
As Yoon's remarks quickly spread through YouTube and online communities, receiving praise from citizens and the political world, Democratic Party lawmakers poured out statements related to Jeonse and monthly rent to counter Yoon.
On the 1st, members of real estate-related organizations such as the 617 Regulation Retroactive Application Victims' Group and the Lease Business Association Approval Committee held a rally in Yeouido, Seoul, opposing the government's real estate regulations and performed a shoe-throwing demonstration. Photo by Yonhap News
Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye wrote on his Facebook on the 1st, "Yoon Hee-sook emphasized being a tenant, but she is not the so-called original." He argued, "Do landlords easily return large Jeonse deposits and switch to monthly rent? Either way, tenants no longer have to worry about being kicked out every two years or about a sharp increase in Jeonse or monthly rent."
Park said, "It is somewhat inappropriate to fabricate an image as if one has been a lifelong tenant with no means. Speaking clearly without glaring eyes or strange intonation is a rare case in that party (United Party)," but he was embroiled in a controversy over regional disparagement. After criticism, Park revised the phrase "without strange intonation" that caused the controversy.
Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Joon-byung also said on the same day, "The conversion from Jeonse to monthly rent is not a bad phenomenon," adding, "The Jeonse system is destined to naturally disappear as income levels rise. Those who regret the disappearance of the Jeonse system seem to have a consciousness stuck in the past development era."
In response to citizens' criticism such as "Have you ever lived on monthly rent?" Yoon replied on the 2nd in a comment on his Facebook, "I have lived in a multi-family house at the foot of Bukhansan for over 30 years for actual residence without considering the house as speculation or investment. I am currently practicing living on monthly rent myself."
However, according to the high-ranking public officials' property registration disclosed in July, Yoon reportedly owns a multi-family house in Gugidong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and an officetel in Gongdeok-dong, Mapo-gu, under his name, declaring assets worth 1.37219 billion KRW.
As a result, the anger of tenants related to real estate has further spread. Some Democratic Party lawmakers' remarks intended to check Yoon Hee-sook have instead fueled tenants' anger.
Citizens collectively described such policies and the ruling party lawmakers' attitudes as a kind of "killing of ordinary people." Through their SNS and other channels, they criticized, saying, "Monthly rent might be pocket change for a lawmaker's salary, but for ordinary people's salaries, it's hard-earned money that can't even send their children to college. How can someone with such a lack of empathy represent the people?" "Someone earning over 100 million KRW a year wouldn't worry about monthly rent. Only low-income people worry," and "With such a mindset in politics, how can they work for the people?"
In addition, citizens posted a petition on the Blue House website demanding "compensation for damages in case of failure of real estate measures," and on the 1st, held a "National Tax Resistance" protest against the government's and ruling party's real estate policies on the road in front of LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, Seoul.
Participants shouted slogans such as "Government stealing private property! Dictatorship without democracy!" and "Are only tenants citizens? Landlords are citizens too!" strongly opposing the policies. The organizers estimated about 2,000 participants that day.
Meanwhile, support for President Moon Jae-in's administration has turned to an upward trend after 10 weeks.
According to a survey conducted by Realmeter commissioned by YTN from the 27th to the 31st of last month targeting 2,516 voters nationwide, positive evaluations of President Moon's administration stood at 46.4%, up 2.0 percentage points from the previous week. This is the first increase in positive ratings in 10 weeks.
Negative evaluations fell by 2.8 percentage points from the previous week to 49.4%. Although negative evaluations have surpassed positive evaluations for three consecutive weeks, the gap between negative and positive evaluations was 2.2 percentage points, within the margin of error.
Regarding this, Realmeter analyzed, "Efforts to relocate the administrative capital and solve real estate issues seem to have influenced the rise in support," but also noted, "However, it is also a natural rebound after a long decline."
Party support was surveyed as follows: Democratic Party 38.3%, Future United Party 31.7%, Justice Party 4.9%, Open Democratic Party 3.8%, People's Party 3.6%. The non-affiliated group was 15.4%.
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