Opposition Party Criticizes Government and Ruling Party Over LH Speculation Allegations: "Naenonamtu"

Ruling Party Calls for Resignation of Rep. Lee Bok-hee, Criticizing "Scapegoating" Response

Members of the People Power Party's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee held a press conference on the 3rd at the National Assembly Communication Office criticizing LH executives and employees for insider trading worth billions of won. The committee demanded an immediate convening of the standing committee to uncover the truth of the incident and called on the Democratic Party to participate in a thorough joint investigation of LH, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, related agencies, public officials, acquaintances, and relatives. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The People Power Party criticized the government and ruling party's response to the recently spreading controversy over the "Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) pre-speculation allegations" as a "scapegoating" tactic. They also called for the resignation of ruling party officials embroiled in land speculation allegations amid this controversy.

People Power Party spokesperson Kim Ye-ryeong reprimanded in a statement on the 6th, saying, "The government and ruling party are consistently responding with scapegoating." She added, "Contrary to Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Byeon Chang-heum's remark that 'LH employees probably did not know about the designation of new towns,' sophisticated and unimaginable high-level speculation methods are being revealed one by one every day."

She continued, "While ignoring the opposition party's demand to hold a standing committee meeting, they summoned the Minister of Land to tell him to 'take responsibility,' a meaningless remark, and there is no empathy or 'public sensitivity' to be found from the ruling party leader who described it as 'reprimand.'"

On the previous day, the 5th, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with Minister Byeon and Acting President of LH Jang Chung-mo at the National Assembly to reprimand the pre-speculation allegations by current and former LH employees regarding new towns and ordered a thorough investigation. On that day, Lee said, "I spoke to them very harshly."

Additionally, spokesperson Kim said, "If LH employees are like this, it is impossible not to suspect land speculation by other figures positioned within this administration."

In this regard, People Power Party deputy spokesperson Kim Jae-sik also added remarks. In a statement on the same day, Deputy Spokesperson Kim criticized, calling it "a Democratic Party city councilor continuing the lineage of 'Naenonamtu' (speculation if I do it is retirement preparation, if others do it is speculation)" and urged Lee Bok-hee, a Siheung city councilor, to resign.

Previously, Councilor Lee became embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that her daughter in her 20s purchased 129㎡ of forest land in Gwarim-dong, Siheung City, for 100 million won just before the government announced the 3rd new town development plan in 2018. After the issue of her daughter's land purchase surfaced, Lee, who was affiliated with the Democratic Party, submitted her resignation from the party on the 4th, and the Democratic Party Gyeonggi Province branch accepted it on the 5th.

Deputy Spokesperson Kim criticized, saying, "Her daughter in her 20s even took out a loan to buy a 'triangle-shaped' leftover piece of land, then changed its designation to residential land, and despite a junkyard being right next door, built and lived in a two-story building. Anyone can see this is abnormal."

He added, "Also, former Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, who said he didn't want to live in a rented house, claimed it was for 'retirement preparation,' and now says it is for 'living in retirement.' This is Naenonamtu."

Finally, he urged, "The Democratic Party should expel the councilor in question and request an investigation into all suspicions surrounding this land, including how the information was obtained and the process of changing the land to residential use." He also demanded that the councilor apologize to the residents of Siheung City and voluntarily resign.

Meanwhile, the People Power Party is receiving reports of speculation allegations involving officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, LH, Seoul Housing Corporation (SH), Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Corporation (GH), local governments, and local urban corporations through the 'Moon Jae-in Government Real Estate Speculation Reporting Center.'