Gominjeong's 'Abolition of Comprehensive Real Estate Tax' Remarks Stir Controversy...Criticism from Within Saying "Go to Kukhim"

Ko "Need to Weigh Pros and Cons of Maintaining or Abolishing 종부세"
Time to Consider Other Measures if the Goal is to Increase Tax Revenue

Gominjeong, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is facing criticism within the party for advocating the abolition of the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax (종합부동산세, Jonghap Budongsanse).

On the 24th, in an interview with Shindonga released publicly, Council member Go expressed her opinion, saying, "I hope the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax is abolished." She added, "It is necessary to carefully weigh what is gained by maintaining the tax versus what is gained by abolishing it," and said, "If the purpose is to increase tax revenue, then other measures besides the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax should be considered." She also stated, "Because of the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax, the Democratic Party has been symbolized as a force attacking people who own homes and are wealthy."

Ko Min-jung, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In response, elected representative Choi Minhui posted on her Facebook page the statement "I do not agree with Council member Gominjeong's call to abolish the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax," along with the Democratic Party’s charter phrases such as "Protecting the economically and socially vulnerable and the common people, strengthening the middle class, preventing the widening inequality of assets such as real estate and finance, and realizing a fair society." On the 25th, Choi further pointed out, "When thoughts influenced by conservative media are expressed, even if unconsciously internalized, it is regarded as a superficial approach to the history of the 2 million party members and the Democratic Party, and it remains in the mind for a long time." She added, "I hope there will be serious reflection and introspection on the policies of the Democratic Party government first."

Kim Yongmin, a pro-Moon Jae-in YouTuber, also harshly criticized on Facebook, saying, "It is unfortunate that there is someone like Gominjeong in the Democratic Party who thinks politics is easy, that is, politics is possible without philosophy." He sarcastically added, "Who doesn’t know that the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax is a risk in terms of centrist expansion? Still, if you ask (Council member Go) to write on a test paper why her own party fears it, how many lines would she write?"

Critical comments are also appearing on Council member Go’s social media accounts. Comments include, "If you are a Supreme Council member, coordinate within the party instead of doing politics alone," "Go to the People Power Party even now," "Only mention your area of expertise," and "Don’t act like a watermelon (subak, a term implying being green on the outside and red inside, meaning hypocritical)." Council member Go is classified as the only non-Moon Jae-in faction member among the Democratic Party leadership.

The call to abolish the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax was first made by Floor Leader Park Chandae before Council member Go. On the 10th, in a media interview, Floor Leader Park said, "No matter how expensive the house is, if it is a single home and actually occupied, it should be exempt from taxation," emphasizing the need to exempt actual residents with one home from the tax. He added, "The Moon Jae-in administration pushed real estate taxation ideologically without considering public acceptance and experienced failure," and said, "The Democratic Party also needs to adjust its perspective."