"Stalled Real Estate Speculation Investigation" Lawmakers Criticize Police

December 12 National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee Full Meeting
Police Chief "Mobilizing All Capabilities for Investigation"
People Power Party's Aggressive Investigation into North Korean Leaflet Distribution

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is attending the plenary session of the Public Administration and Security Committee held at the National Assembly on the 12th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] At the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee held on the 12th, ruling and opposition lawmakers sharply criticized the police investigation into real estate speculation allegations for being sluggish.

Regarding the investigation into public officials' real estate speculation allegations, voices from both ruling and opposition parties urged for a more prompt investigation. Park Jae-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "We must thoroughly investigate this opportunity to uncover speculation allegations and actively inform the public, which will reduce speculation cases," adding, "We need to investigate past cases as well to prevent recurrence."

Choi Chun-sik, a member of the People Power Party, also said, "This investigation is receiving national attention," but criticized, "We cannot help but have doubts about the police investigation capabilities dedicated to the National Investigation Headquarters (Guksubon)." Im Ho-seon, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former police officer, said, "The local governments' self-inspection results are coming out as 'no special issues,' leading to evaluations that lack substance," and urged, "The Guksubon should demonstrate a stronger will to investigate."

Additionally, Lee Eun-joo of the Justice Party criticized, "The speculation allegations involving Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) employees, initially raised through press conferences by the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun), have not been resolved at all," and added, "Speculation allegations using insider information continue to be raised amid sluggish investigations of elected and high-ranking officials."

In response, Commissioner Kim said, "We will mobilize all capabilities to investigate according to law and principles until the public's anger is relieved," explaining, "We are meticulously verifying transaction details, the presence of confidential information, and the timing of recognition necessary to prove the charges."

The People Power Party intensified its offensive regarding the directive by Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong to "thoroughly investigate" the leaflet distribution by North Korean defector groups. Park Wan-soo, a member of the People Power Party, said, "I think Commissioner Kim's directive is a command for an individual case," questioning, "Isn't this selective judgment and selective investigation?" Kim Yong-pan, also from the same party, pointed out, "Excessive politically appeasing remarks are inappropriate for the police chief's stance," adding, "Regardless of intent, it leads to the dishonorable perception of being a political police."

Commissioner Kim rebutted, "I can and currently do give general investigation directives, not specific investigation commands," emphasizing, "The person himself (Park Sang-hak, head of the Free North Korea Movement Alliance) admitted to committing a clear illegal act under the revised law, so I thought it necessary to conduct a thorough investigation."