Lee Jae-myung "Public officials promoted while hiding multiple homes to be suspended... Promotion cancellation under review"

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, announced that he has decided on severe disciplinary actions, including cancellation of promotion, against a senior public official of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government who not only held multiple homes but also deceived about it.

On the 23rd, Governor Lee stated on Facebook, "The position of a public official who concealed the fact of owning multiple homes and submitted false ownership status to get promoted to grade 4 will be revoked," adding, "We are also considering severe disciplinary measures including cancellation of the promotion."

He further said, "Last July, when we held a briefing on real estate measures to try to change the reality where people suffer greatly from ruinous real estate speculation, we first restricted the promotion of senior public officials with multiple homes as a temporary measure at the Gyeonggi Province level to restore trust in real estate policies," adding, "(This decision) recommended that those entrusted with high responsibility and authority dispose of all properties except essential real estate."

Governor Lee emphasized that the decision at the time was "a natural step."

He continued, "If public officials who influence policies own multiple houses while the real estate policy emphasizes prioritizing protection for actual residents, who can trust the policy?" He then pointed out, "Moreover, submitting false data is an act that seriously undermines the fairness and objectivity of personnel affairs and must be strictly punished."

Furthermore, he said, "We will take strong measures to ensure that such incidents never recur," adding, "The public knows that politics which only pretends to solve problems when they arise and then quietly sweeps them away over time no longer works."

In addition, he argued, "Real estate policy is the most critical issue, and to fundamentally restore trust, the introduction of a blind trust system for real estate owned by senior public officials is ultimately necessary," emphasizing, "Since the direction is clear that houses should no longer be a means of making money but a place to live, now is the time to have the courage and determination to realize this."