"Absurd excuse that all six homes are for his own residence... Never said he would sell them"
On his offer to swap with President Lee's apartment: "Trade with Song Eonseok's Gangnam apartment instead"
On October 25, the Democratic Party of Korea criticized Jang Donghyuk, the leader of the People Power Party and a multiple-home owner, for denying any speculative intent by saying "the total is only 850 million won," stating, "Do not try to water down the issue with evasive excuses about habitual real estate speculation."
In a statement, Baek Seunga, the party’s spokesperson in the National Assembly, said, "Jang, a wealthy real estate owner, is degrading the political scene with his shameless and evasive excuses."
She continued, "He has launched indiscriminate political attacks on others’ real estate, yet when it comes to his own collection of properties-including apartments, single-family homes, officetels, and land-he offers absurd justifications. His explanation that he purchased an officetel in Yeouido for legislative activities, despite living in Guro, is simply not credible." Regarding Jang’s claim that he is willing to exchange his house and land for President Lee Jaemyung’s apartment, she said, "If he has political responsibility and conscience, he should swap with his colleagues instead. I recommend Han Donghoon, the former party leader and a master of gap investment, or Song, the floor leader who owns a luxurious apartment in Gangnam."
Kim Hyunjung, another spokesperson in the National Assembly, also issued a statement, saying, "If Jang is so reluctant to sell and insists on exchanging, he should swap with Song Eonseok, the floor leader of his own party, who owns a 5 billion won apartment in Gangnam, rather than the president’s house. Song’s apartment in Daechi-dong appears to be the more valuable single property." She added, "Jang made the absurd claim that all six of his homes are for his own residence, yet he never once said he would sell them. The only thing Jang has said is to cruelly mock the dreams of ordinary people who wish to own a home."
Earlier that morning, during a press briefing, Jang had explained in detail that he owns four apartments and shares in two additional homes, stating, "Even combined, the total is only about 850 million won." He added, "The real estate I own is either for my own residence or for other purposes." He went on to say, "I am willing to offer all my houses and land in exchange for the apartments owned by President Lee Jaemyung or Kim Byungki, the Democratic Party’s floor leader."
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