Prime Minister Nominee Kim Bu-gyeom: "Real Estate Policy Must Not Break Principles"

Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum is answering questions from reporters as he arrives at the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the office for preparing the confirmation hearing has been set up, on the morning of the 22nd. 2021.4.22 Photo by Yonhap News

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Kim Boo-kyum, the nominee for Prime Minister, recently addressed criticisms of a "retreat" in the Moon Jae-in administration's real estate policy on the 22nd, stating, "Principles must not be compromised."

On the morning of the same day, Kim met with reporters on his way to the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and when asked about his thoughts on changes to the real estate policy, he said, "I cannot answer now, but if questions arise during the confirmation hearing, I will clarify the government's intentions." However, when asked whether the "government's intentions" he mentioned implied a direction of policy change, he was cautious, saying, "I cannot make such a definitive statement in advance."

Kim added, "The party (the Democratic Party of Korea) believes that fine-tuning of the (real estate) policy is necessary, while economic officials, including Hong Nam-ki, the acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy who is responsible for policy execution, think that 'policies should be carried out carefully.'" Considering both positions, it appears he intends to express his own stance during the upcoming parliamentary confirmation hearing.

Meanwhile, with Kim, a native of Daegu, being nominated as the next Prime Minister, expectations for pardons of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye are growing, especially among opposition parties. Regarding this, Kim said, "Those (opposition figures) have continuously raised this issue, so they will likely want to hear a more advanced response on this occasion," but added, "I believe it is appropriate to leave the decision to President Moon Jae-in."