People Power Party: "'Moon's 13-pyeong remark' is fake news," Cheong still fails to empathize with the people

President Moon Jae-in is seen on the morning of the 11th at the Dongtan public rental housing complex, a commemorative site for 1 million LH rental housing units in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, discussing the model of the rental housing complex with Kim Hyun-mi, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Byeon Chang-heum, nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (current LH president). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Nah Ana] The People Power Party (PPP) has rebutted the Blue House's denial that President Moon Jae-in's visit to a public rental housing site and his statement, "I will raise two children in a 13-pyeong two-room unit," was 'fake news,' saying, "They still fail to empathize with the public's anger."

Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the PPP, criticized in a statement on the 13th, "President Moon, who claimed to be confident about real estate issues, still cannot empathize with the people."

Spokesperson Kim pointed out, "The Blue House seems more obsessed with how the president appears rather than understanding why the people are struggling and angry," adding, "It is regrettable that the Blue House is anxiously sounding alarms to media outlets at midnight over 'fake news' about rental housing."

Earlier, when President Moon's 'two children' remark became controversial, Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok explained on the 11th, "The president's statement was merely a question confirming the explanation of Byun Chang-heum, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport who accompanied him. The article titled 'A family of four will also live there' is not factual and does not align with the president's intent."

Spokesperson Kim criticized, "The Blue House's explanation that President Moon's remark about the 13-pyeong rental housing?'One child is standard for newlyweds, but two young children might be possible'?was a 'question' is unreasonable," and added, "The issue is not whether it was a 'claim' or a 'question.' Even if we concede that it was a question, is it common sense to ask such a question after seeing a 13-pyeong apartment?"

Targeting nominee Byun Chang-heum, Spokesperson Kim said, "The nominee, who bought an apartment in Gangnam with credit card loans exceeding his own funds by 'Yeongkkeul' (pulling together all his soul), is ironically forcing the public to live in beehive-like rental housing. The public is angry at the president's bypassing of the people by confirming a nominee who has yet to undergo a hearing as a minister."

She continued, "Due to the failure in real estate policy, there has even been a public petition requesting that 'President Moon's post-retirement residence be limited to 6 pyeong,'" and warned, "'Housing supply,' not 'housing rationing,' is necessary. Do they really want to follow the footsteps of failed socialist countries?"