[Comprehensive] Jin Sun-mi, After Visiting Rental Housing, "No Different from Apartments"... "Try Living Once" Sparks Public Debate

Jin Sun-mi Clarifies, "It Meant We Are Concerned About Housing Quality"

Jin Sun-mi, Head of the Future Housing Promotion Team of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the LH Housing Welfare Project Field Meeting held at the LH Purchased Rental Housing Seodohuvil in Gangdong-gu, Seoul on the 20th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Jin Sunmi, head of the Future Housing Promotion Team of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 20th, "If we give up the illusion of apartments, a much wider variety of housing types becomes possible." However, this remark has sparked criticism from some quarters, with voices saying, "You should try living in rental housing first." Jin, known to hold a high-end brand apartment leasehold, was criticized for making an inconsiderate comment by suggesting to "give up the illusion of apartments."

On the 20th, at a press conference held immediately after an on-site discussion at the Seoul headquarters of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), Jin said, "I realized once again that we have a very distorted prejudice against rental housing," adding, "If we give up the illusion of apartments, a much wider variety of housing types becomes possible. There are actually many good spaces."

It was reported that before the discussion, Jin toured rental housing purchased by LH, such as Elim House in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, and Seodohuville in Gangdong-gu. Regarding this, she said, "There is no difference at all compared to the apartment I currently live in," and emphasized, "We need to provide accurate perceptions and information like this."

Afternoon of the 19th, around an apartment complex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

She continued, "We are thinking about improving the quality of housing," and stressed, "I have become confident that good housing can be provided in various forms, not necessarily ownership but also rental."

However, Jin's remarks have drawn criticism from some quarters, saying they failed to consider the sentiments of citizens suffering from housing difficulties. Netizens expressed their frustration with comments such as, "Have you ever raised children in a dilapidated house without any convenience facilities?", "Try living in rental housing yourself before making such remarks," and "Are you treating the people like dogs and pigs?"

Some also pointed out that Jin, who holds a leasehold in a luxury apartment, made an inconsiderate remark. According to the regular asset disclosure of lawmakers released in March, Jin owns the leasehold of the 'Raemian Solvenue Apartment' in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul. This apartment is a newly built complex that received its occupancy approval in June last year.

On the morning of the 18th, ahead of the government's announcement of real estate jeonse measures to resolve the jeonse crisis, a real estate agency in Songpa-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

The opposition party also strongly criticized Jin's remarks as "sophistry."

Kim Yeryeong, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "If you just coolly admit to wrong policies, it would be fine, but trying to twist things with sophistry leads to absurd remarks that are out of touch with public sentiment," adding, "If multi-family rental housing is no different from the apartment Jin lives in, then why does Jin live in an apartment instead of rental housing?"

Amid growing controversy, Jin clarified that her remarks were distorted. In a post on Facebook that day, she explained, "Since becoming independent in 1999, I have always been a tenant who had to vacate my home due to reconstruction," adding, "I would never have said it like that. I was thinking about the quality of housing and meant that looking at quality rental housing could help overcome immediate difficulties."