Minbyun and People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy Reveal Additional 'Speculation Allegations'... LH Refutes, Citing Possibility of Namesakes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] The Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) and the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) revealed on the 8th that there are more employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) who purchased land near the newly announced public housing sites in Gwangmyeong and Siheung New Towns in advance. However, LH countered this by suggesting the possibility of namesakes.

On the 8th, LH stated in a press reference material, "The additional allegations by Minbyun and PSPD that an LH presumed employee purchased two parcels of land in Gwarim-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, are unverified speculations without specific verification of namesakes on the registry copies."

They added, "The government joint investigation team began a full investigation on the 5th and plans to announce the investigation results within this week."

On the same day, Minbyun and PSPD disclosed two parcels of land that are highly likely to have been additionally purchased by a person presumed to be an LH employee in the Gwangmyeong and Siheung New Towns in Gyeonggi Province. The locations they pointed out are a paddy field (non-dry field) of 2,285㎡ (approximately 691 pyeong) traded for about 1.22 billion KRW on July 14 last year, and another paddy field of 2,029㎡ (approximately 614 pyeong) traded for 1.228 billion KRW on July 23 of the same month. In particular, for the first parcel, three out of five owners have names matching those of LH employees, which Minbyun and PSPD explained increases the possibility of land speculation by LH employees. For the second parcel, only one out of five owners had a name matching an LH employee.

Regarding a media report suggesting that there may be 10 more employees owning land in Gwarim-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, LH stated, "The '10 presumed LH employees' related to land in Gwarim-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi Province mentioned in the article are unverified speculative reports concerning namesakes on the registry copies."