Democratic Party: "People Power Party, Stop Criticizing and Join Us in Eradicating Real Estate Corruption"

Park Deok-hum, Jeon Bong-min, and Others Must Be Investigated
Cross-Party Cooperation Needed for Eradicating Deep-Rooted Evils

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 7th, the Democratic Party of Korea urged the People Power Party for bipartisan cooperation through investigations of its own party members regarding the speculation allegations involving current and former employees of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) related to the 3rd New Town development.

Shin Young-dae, the party spokesperson, stated in a commentary on the same day, “Instead of merely blaming the opposing party, we hope that the People Power Party will join us in eradicating real estate corruption by firmly addressing the allegations of real estate and construction-related corruption raised against its members.”

Shin added, “Representative Lee Nak-yeon has also ordered the Democratic Party’s Ethics Inspection Team to conduct a thorough investigation targeting party members of the National Assembly, their aides, local government heads and council members, as well as their families,” and urged, “We seek bipartisan cooperation from the People Power Party to eliminate real estate corruption.”

He emphasized, “A comprehensive investigation of People Power Party members of the National Assembly, their aides, local government heads and council members, and their families must be conducted to demonstrate a bipartisan attitude so that real estate corruption can be eradicated starting from the political sphere. In particular, we ask for a thorough fact-finding investigation and for the party to fulfill its responsibility regarding Park Deok-heum, who left the party and is suspected of securing construction contracts worth hundreds of billions of won by leveraging his position as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s whip; Jeon Bong-min, who is suspected of funneling work to his family’s construction company; Lee Ju-hwan, who is suspected of granting special permits to his family’s construction company; and Kang Ki-yoon, who is suspected of proposing self-benefiting tax reduction laws related to real estate.”

He added, “The Democratic Party feels a heavy responsibility for the speculation allegations involving LH employees,” and concluded, “We will do our best to thoroughly investigate the raised allegations and restore public trust through uncompromising punishment.”