"Abandon the Apartment Fantasy," Jin Sun-mi Faces Fierce Criticism from Opposition: "Stop Tormenting the People"

Jin Sun-mi: "Abandoning Apartment Fantasies Can Ensure Quality Housing Through Rental Homes"

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 Seodo Hyu-vil, an LH purchased rental housing located in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Recently, Jin Sun-mi, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, sparked controversy by stating that "we need to abandon illusions about apartments." On the 23rd, opposition parties raised their voices criticizing the government's failure in real estate policies and the ruling party members' 'real estate gaffes.'

Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, directly addressed this at the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly, saying, "Even without this, the real estate prices are skyrocketing, causing public frustration. I hope those responsible for policy refrain from making unnecessary remarks that further distress the people."

He continued, "Recently, the more the government announces real estate measures, the more house prices rise nationwide," adding, "I think it would be better for the government to stop implementing policies that disappoint the public."

Earlier, Jin, who is the chairperson of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, said at a forum held at the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) Seoul Headquarters on the 20th, "Once we abandon illusions about apartments, I became confident that the quality of housing can be secured through rental housing," and added, "I realized anew that we hold distorted prejudices against rental housing," which sparked controversy.

Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the People Power Party, criticized Jin's remarks as "intellectually lazy." In a post on her Facebook, she said, "It is truly disappointing that someone who holds great responsibility for the legislative and ruling party's housing policies is so intellectually lazy."

She pointed out, "After touring multi-family housing, Jin said, 'There are three rooms, and compared to the apartment I currently live in, there is no difference at all,'" calling it "intellectual laziness that makes premature judgments based solely on the number of rooms."

She added, "What is even more dismal is the arrogant attitude of dismissing the public's long-accumulated perceptions as mere 'illusions or prejudices' without any basis," and said, "It is the greatest irony of our modern history that those from the democratization generation, more than anyone else, are steeped in totalitarian thinking and neglect the basics."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, the Democratic Party defended Jin, accusing the People Power Party of distorting her intentions by nitpicking her words. Shin Dong-geun, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "Picking apart the opponent's words to distort their true meaning and further making the outrageous claim that she is 'intellectually lazy' is nothing more than intellectual arrogance."

Shin added, "Unless one possesses a sense of chosenness and privilege steeped in intellectual superiority, they would not dare publicly accuse others of intellectual laziness."

He continued, "What Jin intended to say was that housing should not be something to buy and sell but a means to fulfill the basic right to residence," and "As part of that, she merely emphasized the need to expand decent public rental housing."

Meanwhile, as the controversy spread, Jin personally clarified her remarks. On the 20th, she posted on her Facebook, "I am always surprised. How the media can distort the original meaning so much," emphasizing, "I would never say that. I am concerned about the quality of housing and, while examining quality rental housing, I meant that it could help overcome immediate difficulties."

She also said, "I will strive so that everyone can live in better quality housing," and "I am deeply sorry to all those struggling with housing issues."