Lee Jae-myung: "Opposition and conservative media's Daejang-dong 'trick' will be overcome with real estate reform 'essence'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy=Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential primary candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, enumerated various real estate policies pursued in Gyeonggi Province during his tenure as governor, including the 'Land Transaction Permission System,' and expressed his determination to confront the People Power Party and Chosun Ilbo's 'take it or leave it' trick attacks on the Seongnam Daejang-dong public development with the 'essence' of real estate reform.

On the 25th, Lee posted on Facebook an article titled "I will accept the construction vested interests' 'trick' as the 'essence' of real estate reform," beginning with, "'Tricks are accepted as essence.' This is a phrase from the drama 'Misaeng,' and it is my life principle to turn crises into opportunities and open the path of reform step by step despite all resistance and backlash."

He continued, "The reason why the People Power Party and Chosun Ilbo continue their 'take it or leave it' attacks on the Daejang-dong public development is clear," adding, "They intend to politicize the Daejang-dong public development issue to make this (presidential) election a real estate election, and it is a 'trick' to try to seize power through a competition of slander instead of a competition of doing well for the people's lives."

Lee stated, "I will not avoid (such tricks)," emphasizing, "I seek the stern judgment of the people on who stands with the construction vested interests and who has realistic alternatives and solutions to break the rent-seeking republic on the side of the citizens."

In particular, he said, "I will accept this presidential election as the 'essence' that marks the starting point for dismantling the construction vested interests," asserting, "(I) have always broken through the resistance of vested interests with achievements rather than a hundred words and produced results in real estate reform, never tolerating real estate crimes and unfair practices."

He then self-praised, "Since my inauguration, Gyeonggi Province has requested investigations into 83 cases of planned real estate crimes and uncovered 1,677 crimes through special investigations of suspected false real estate transaction reports," adding, "Through focused investigations on illegal apartment subscription and resale, 1,856 people were caught, applying thorough administrative authority to eradicate real estate crimes."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "Through the introduction of the 'Land Transaction Permission System,' foreign transactions decreased by 54%, from 1,866 cases (June?October 2020) to 859 cases (November 2020?March 2021), and corporate transactions plummeted by 91%, from 6,362 cases to 592 cases, suppressing speculative demand," and added, "From the Daejang-dong development during my time as Seongnam Mayor to the 'Development Profit Return to Residents System' implemented in Gyeonggi Province, I have experience returning development profits to citizens."

He also added, "I have proposed new standards and solutions to solve the long-standing real estate problems, including the basic housing to guarantee the people's housing stability, the introduction of a 'Basic Income Land Holding Tax' to make unearned income belong to everyone rather than a few, and the introduction of a blind trust system for high-ranking officials' real estate to restore trust in real estate policies."