[Comprehensive] President Moon's 'Petty' Comment on SNS Sparks Backlash... Opposition Criticizes as "Intimidation of the People"

President Moon Criticizes Opposition's 'Farmland Act Violation' Claim as "Petty"

President Moon Jae-in attended and delivered a congratulatory speech at the appointment ceremony for new police lieutenants and captains held at the Police University in Asan, Chungnam, on the afternoon of the 12th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As President Moon Jae-in expressed displeasure by calling the controversy over the purchase of farmland for his private residence in Yangsan, Gyeongnam "petty and embarrassing," opposition parties continued their offensive on the 14th. The opposition pointed out that President Moon's remarks were ill-timed amid the public's strong anger over the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) scandal.

On the same day, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook, "Seeing the sudden post by the president on Facebook, I feel a deep and vast chasm between the president and the people," and criticized, "The people do not know how to respond to the president's anger. This is intimidation against the people."

Earlier, on the 12th, President Moon responded to the opposition's criticism regarding the construction of his private residence by saying, "I am buying the land with the president's own money and building on it, but since it is combined with security facilities, the president only lives there and cannot dispose of the land," adding, "I understand it is election season, but please keep it to that extent. It is petty and embarrassing."

In response, Floor Leader Joo said, "All the farmland purchases and land use changes carried out by the president's family are illegal," and urged, "If they have farmed for over 10 years, they should disclose the farming-related expenses such as fertilizer, pesticide, seed, and sapling costs."

He also pointed out, "The claim that the security facilities included in the president's residence prevent free disposal is incorrect. According to the Security Act, protection for former presidents ends after 10 years," and asked, "Are you saying that you will donate the Yangsan residence to the state after 10 years?"

Furthermore, Floor Leader Joo said, "The president is now angry, saying he is building a private residence of just over 1,000 pyeong according to the law and questioning why there is criticism. The people are currently furious about the widespread real estate speculation by LH Corporation," and warned, "This is not the time for the president to pettyly talk about his post-retirement residence ahead of the election."

Photo by Moon Jae-in, captured from Facebook.

The opposition's criticism continued the day before as well. Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "Public anger is spreading like wildfire due to the LH illegal speculation allegations. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has resigned, and an LH executive even made an extreme choice apologizing to the people," adding, "Yet, amid this, the president snapped at the opposition's reasonable questions about his private residence land, calling it 'petty and embarrassing.'"

He continued, "It is utterly baffling. The Farmland Act prohibits ownership of farmland by those who do not intend to use it for agricultural management, so anyone would be puzzled by the 'president's 11 years of farming experience,'" and criticized, "Converting farmland to residential land just nine months after purchase is no different from the reasons LH employees are being criticized. Isn't land use change difficult for ordinary citizens?"

He urged President Moon, “to calm emotional anger and come forward to the people to explain in detail,” adding, "As the president said, all procedures should just be carried out according to the law."

Yoon Young-seok, a People Power Party lawmaker, also called President Moon "a president with emotional regulation disorder" on his Facebook, saying, "President Moon, who was so harsh on others' faults, is now embarrassed and awkward to see him unable to accept criticism of his own faults gracefully and showing symptoms of emotional regulation disorder."

Ha Tae-kyung, another People Power Party lawmaker, wrote on Facebook, "The president who calls opposition criticism petty is truly worrisome. If the president cannot control his emotions, only the people will suffer and be unhappy," and pointed out, "Anyone can see there is a problem with purchasing farmland while claiming to be a farmer for 11 years without actually being one."

He added, "Saying it is okay because it is for lifelong residence shows a serious lack of real estate sensitivity," and criticized, "The president may find such petty criticism unpleasant, but the people are furious."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also posted on Facebook titled 'Really Disappointed,' criticizing, "On the day when public anger over LH illegal speculation was boiling, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport resigned, and an LH executive made an extreme choice, the president got annoyed calling the opposition's questions about his private residence land 'petty.'"

He continued, "The people expected empathy, apology, and consolation from the president to soothe their frustration and anger," and asked, "Is the message sent to the people just a crude expression of anger over his own land? Why can he get so angry about his own matters but not empathize with the people's anger?"

Earlier, the Blue House announced in June last year that President Moon planned to establish a new private residence in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, Gyeongnam after his retirement. The private residence land purchased with President Moon's personal funds measures 2,630.5㎡ (795.6 pyeong).