"The project designer who gated it is Lee Jae-myung"
"Claiming that public development was a pretext for private development, funneling profits"
Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung (left), former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon (right) [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, a leading presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, for claiming that the preferential treatment allegations in the Daejang-dong development project during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam are a "People Power Party gate," saying, "Lee himself has admitted that the project was tainted by corruption."
On the 19th, Jin wrote on his Facebook, "That project is indeed a gate, and the architect of that gate project is candidate Lee Jae-myung," he said.
He continued, "Following the April 7 by-elections, this presidential election also seems to be a real estate election," adding, "Judging from the case, it appears to be a matter where public development was disguised as private development, and in the process, development profits were concentrated to specific individuals."
Jin further stated, "Even if candidate Lee did not personally pocket money from it, he could at least be held responsible for minimal breach of trust," and pointed out, "The core issue is that this incident starkly revealed the fallacy of Lee Jae-myung-style governance. He has boasted of such projects as his achievements."
He also criticized, "While he fiercely condemned the National Pension Service's investment in the deficit-ridden Ilsan Bridge as Macquarie and Bongyi Kim Seondal's trickery, he claims that private operators pocketing thousands of billions through risk-free projects is a just reward for bearing risks," adding, "What is noteworthy is his meticulous skill in using public authority and resources for private gain and disguising it as public interest."
Earlier, Lee's camp claimed on the 18th that the preferential treatment allegations in the Daejang-dong development project could be summarized as a "People Power Party gate."
After visiting the 'Angel House' facility for single mothers and children in Gwangju on the same day, Lee told reporters, "Before LH gave up on this project, someone or some group had contracted most of the land in the Daejang-dong area," adding, "Later, former President Lee Myung-bak told LH to withdraw from profitable projects."
He continued, "This means that President Lee Myung-bak said, 'Do not engage in projects that can compete with the private sector,'" and claimed, "Strangely, at that time, certain operators had raised hundreds of billions of won to buy land in the Daejang-dong area."
He also emphasized, "After I became mayor of Seongnam, I judged that there were many preferential treatments in private development and that it was likely a People Power Party gate, so I wrote on Facebook about improper connections and gave interviews."
In response, presidential candidates from the People Power Party raised their voices in criticism against Lee.
Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong wrote on Facebook on the 19th, "The Daejang-dong development was said to be a model public interest project, but suddenly it’s an opposition party gate? Is Lee Jae-myung the opposition party?" mocking him.
Another People Power Party presidential candidate, Representative Hong Joon-pyo, also wrote on Facebook that day, "Seeing Lee insist that the Hwacheon Daeyu Daejang-dong development corruption case is a People Power Party gate and trying to pin it on the other side, I cannot shake the feeling that his shamelessness has been the driving force behind today's Lee Jae-myung."
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