Kang Hoonsik: "We Will End the 'Real Estate Never Loses' Era Under This Government... Lee Jaemyung Gets Things Done"

"Many policies already prepared... Taxation or supply? Every option is ready"
"Lee only asked why Jeon Jooncheol was recommended... He was not enraged"
"Lee wants legislation and policy to function smoothly as one team... Hopes things will be smoother"

Kang Hoonsik, Chief of Staff to the President, said on the 14th in relation to real estate market stabilization policies that "there are a great many policies already prepared," adding, "The basic stance of our administration is that the so?called 'real estate never loses' era will end under this government."

Kang Hunsik, Chief of Staff to the President, is making an announcement at the Blue House press briefing room on the 11th regarding a luncheon meeting between President Lee Jaemyung and the leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties. Yonhap News

Appearing on the YouTube program "Maebul Show" that day, Chief of Staff Kang said, "In a recent opinion poll, when people were asked what President Lee Jaemyung is doing well, the first answer was the economy and people's livelihoods, the second was diplomacy, and the third was real estate," explaining the situation in these terms.

He continued, "This means the market has begun to believe in our determination to stabilize the real estate market," and emphasized, "We have gone through a process that confirmed we can now put an end to the era when people made money from so?called real estate investment, and that process will continue going forward."

He added, "People ask whether the prepared policies are about taxation or supply, but every possible option is ready," and said, "If I had to sum this up in one phrase, it would be 'Lee Jaemyung Gets Things Done' (President Lee's 20th presidential election slogan, which stressed his ability to deliver)."

Asked whether aides had tried to dissuade President Lee from personally taking the lead and pushing hard on real estate policy, he replied, "We did not try to stop him," and went on, "The attitude was not 'You must not do this before an election,' but rather 'How can we make this work?'"

He said, "We have already experienced two major achievements: the success of Korea?US trade negotiations and the KOSPI surpassing 5,000," adding, "We are united in wanting the President to see this challenge through, to treat this critical juncture as a decisive gamble, and to make it a success."

Regarding President Lee's reaction to the recommendation of attorney Jeon Jooncheol as the Democratic Party's candidate for a comprehensive special prosecutor, he said, "He only went as far as asking people around him, 'Why would they have recommended someone like this?'," again dismissing talk that the President had "erupted in fury."

On some media reports, citing remarks by an aide, that "President Lee was enraged," he commented, "That was an overblown remark, although I can say that aides were displeased," and added, "I have never seen the kind of rage or fury from President Lee that we saw under the previous administration."

In response to criticism that rifts between the presidential office and the ruling party are continuing, he said, "The biggest pillar is making people's lives easier through the realization of legislation and policy," and added, "Of course reform is important, but from the President's perspective, I would guess that what he wants most is for the ruling party and the presidential office to function smoothly as one team in implementing legislation and policy."

He went on, "In that sense, there is a shared awareness that it would be better if things were a bit smoother and gentler."

He said, "In any case, we are well aware that there is far too much of this kind of talk," and explained, "That is why the President is making even more constant efforts to embrace and hold the party close."

Asked whether President Lee is under stress because of negotiations with the United States, which has hinted at raising tariffs again, he replied, "He is more composed than you might think," and added, "The President is well aware that if we make a fuss in these negotiations, it could actually damage our national interest."

On the outlook for winning the 60 trillion won Canadian submarine procurement project, he said, "The leading candidates have been narrowed down to Germany and us," and commented, "The current score is 49 to 51, with us at 49."

He added, "Canada's trust in our submarines is extremely strong, and if you look only at the submarines themselves, Korea is fully competitive, but we also need to score points in other areas, so it is important to build up our relationship with Canada."

Regarding having eaten gukbap and shared soju with President Lee Jaemyung at Tongin Market near the Blue House on the 9th, he recalled, "I asked the President, 'You haven't been able to drink much these days, how are you managing?' and he said, 'I'm really too exhausted to drink,' so I replied, 'I'm the same way.'"

Asked whether he would be willing to run as a candidate for the head of a unified local government if an administrative merger between Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province were to take place, he reiterated his previous position, saying, "No. I truly have not had even a single moment to think about such a thing."