Lee Junseok Criticizes Ruling Party's Attack on Jang Donghyuk as "Bentley Owners Attacking Someone for Having Four Small Trucks"

"Democratic Party's Criticism of Jang Donghyuk Is an Out-of-Nowhere Attack"
Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Jang's Real Estate Holdings

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's real estate offensive as an "excessive political dispute." Lee's defense came after the Democratic Party labeled Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, as a "real estate tycoon" and "multiple-home owner" in an attempt to pressure him.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's real estate offensive as an "excessive political dispute."

On the 25th, Lee wrote on his social networking service (SNS), "From a third-party perspective, the Democratic Party's criticism of leader Jang Donghyuk seems completely out of the blue." He added, "It's like people who drive Maybachs and Bentleys attacking someone for having four cars-a midsize car, a compact car, a delivery truck, and a motorcycle." This analogy suggests that Lee finds the Democratic Party's criticism unconvincing.

Previously, leader Jang had strongly criticized the government's "10·15 real estate measures," arguing that "the policy goes against market principles." In response, the Democratic Party counterattacked by claiming that Jang is a "multiple-home owner with four apartments."

Jang immediately offered an explanation. He stated, "I currently live in a 30-pyeong apartment in Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, and I inherited my rural family home, where my 94-year-old mother lives." He further explained, "After becoming a National Assembly member, I purchased an apartment in my constituency and an officetel near the National Assembly. Later, when my father-in-law passed away, I inherited one-fifth of an apartment in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, where my mother-in-law lives, and my wife holds a one-tenth share in an apartment in Gyeonggi Province that her father acquired with his retirement pay."

He clarified that the market value of the four apartments he owns is about 660 million won, and the total value of all his real estate is around 850 million won. He emphasized, "Formally, it may appear as six properties, but most are for actual residence. The only exception is one apartment where my mother-in-law receives monthly rent to cover her living expenses."

In response, the presidential office mocked Jang by saying, "If all six properties are for actual residence, does that mean your head and feet live separately?" Moon Geumjoo, floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party, previously criticized Jang as the "special committee chair who sweeps up real estate, owning four apartments alone."