Kim Woong Criticizes Government Reconstruction Regulations Pointing Out Apartment Reconstruction Owned by Cho Kuk
Cho Kuk "Did Not Intervene in Any Way During Reconstruction Review Process"
On October 28 last year, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk was leaving his residence in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk criticized Rep. Kim Woong of the United Future Party, who criticized the government's real estate policy by mentioning the reconstruction approval of his apartment in Bangbae-dong, Seoul, calling it "noise marketing."
On the 12th, Cho wrote on his Facebook, "Rep. Kim, who was thoroughly opposed to prosecutorial reform such as investigation rights adjustment during his time as a prosecutor, received the United Future Party's nomination in the last general election, ran for Songpa District, and became a member of the National Assembly, suddenly attacked the reconstruction approval of my apartment in Seocho-dong while mentioning that the reconstruction of the Olympic Athletes' Village apartments in Songpa District is not proceeding," he said.
He continued, "As far as I know, the Moon Jae-in administration never said 'reconstruction = deep-rooted evils,' contrary to Rep. Kim's claim," and explained, "The apartment I live in is an old apartment built in 1981, which I purchased in 2003 and have lived in since."
Former Minister Cho also explained the process by which his apartment passed the reconstruction review. He said, "The reconstruction association applied for reconstruction several times, and after the 'third attempt,' it passed the Seoul city review and received project approval from Seocho District Office in 2019," emphasizing, "I was not involved in this process in any way, and the Seocho District Mayor is affiliated with the United Future Party."
He added, "The Olympic Athletes' Village apartments were disqualified after receiving a C grade, which means reconstruction is not possible, in the reconstruction safety diagnosis, so why connect it to the reconstruction approval of the apartment I live in?" and pointed out, "If you want to raise an issue, do it with the Seoul city and Songpa District Office."
Former Minister Cho said, "I understand well that Rep. Kim Woong's intention is to secure votes in his constituency," and added, "It is unfortunate that a first-term lawmaker is already using the old-fashioned 'noise marketing' tactic."
Kim Woong, a member of the United Future Party, is questioning about the tap water larvae incident while showing 'granular activated carbon' at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee plenary meeting on the 31st of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, on the 11th, Rep. Kim claimed on his Facebook that reconstruction projects for old apartments were blocked due to regulations, causing flood damage. He said, "Due to the recent heavy rain, 554 households in the Olympic apartments suffered water leakage damage," and added, "Even if you want to reconstruct dangerous apartments, all kinds of regulations are blocking it."
He then mentioned former Minister Cho, saying, "If the people trying to reconstruct are deep-rooted evils, then what is Professor Cho?" This was interpreted as a criticism of the government's reconstruction policy, using the fact that Cho's apartment in Seocho District, Seoul, has currently received reconstruction approval and entered the construction phase.
The apartment, where former Minister Cho owns a unit with an exclusive area of 151㎡, received project implementation approval last May. Earlier, Daelim Industrial announced in May that it had been selected as the construction company for the apartment's reconstruction.
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