Lee Jun-seok "President Moon was also a farmer for 11 years... No right to criticize LH"

Former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Amid allegations of land speculation on planned new town sites by employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), former People Power Party Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok mentioned President Moon Jae-in's farmland at his private residence in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, on the 9th, arguing that "it is difficult to criticize LH employees for violating the Farmland Act under the current administration."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, former Supreme Council member Lee said, "A document submitted to the National Assembly shows that President Moon wrote that he had 11 years of farming experience, claiming to have been a farmer for 11 years since 2008," adding, "If the official position of the Blue House is that he continued farming while serving as a member of the National Assembly, opposition party leader, and president, then LH employees should be able to hold concurrent farming positions as well."

Earlier, on the 7th, former Supreme Council member Lee also criticized, saying, "It is nonsense to criticize LH employees for registering as farmers," and added, "When asked if it is a violation of the Farmland Act for the president of a country to purchase farmland, the response was that it is not a violation because he farms occasionally during his vacation. Who would dare accuse anyone of violating the Farmland Act under such circumstances?"

He further stated, "If the highest authority farming during vacation and preparing to return to farming is acceptable, then anyone can buy farmland, visit occasionally during vacation, and say they plan to return to farming."

Earlier, in August last year, when concerns were raised that some farmland was included in the site of President Moon’s private residence in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, purchased for residence after his retirement, Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok responded, "The farmland in question is currently being cultivated and has never been left fallow. We are currently preparing for land use changes necessary for construction."