Kim Jong-in "Housing Policy Confusion Requires Presidential Decision... Concern Over Declining Trust in Judiciary"

Joo Ho-young "Submission of Impeachment Motion Against Chu Mi-ae... Expecting Support Votes from Democratic Party"
Fierce Real Estate Criticism with 'House Prices Won't Fall' Phrase on Democratic Party's Blue Backdrop

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, recently raised his voice, urging President Moon to make a decisive decision to overcome the confusion in housing policy, mentioning controversies surrounding greenbelt areas. He also pointed out issues of trust in the judiciary, referring to Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo, who emphasized a "trial at the people's level."

On the morning of the 20th, at the United Future Party's Emergency Committee meeting held in the National Assembly main building, Chairman Kim said, "Recently, regarding the greenbelt issue, even governors and the Minister of Justice have been making statements related to housing policy."

At the meeting, a new backdrop featuring the Democratic Party's blue color and the phrase "Even so, house prices don't fall" was displayed. This phrase was quoted from a conversation between Democratic Party lawmaker Jin Sung-jun and Emergency Committee member Kim Hyun-ah after appearing on MBC's "100-Minute Debate" on the 16th. It targeted the ruling party and government for failing to curb house prices despite 22 rounds of real estate measures.

Chairman Kim pointed out, "Recently, the sounds coming from real estate policy are so confusing that it is unbearable. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport talks about his own housing supply policy, the Deputy Prime Minister only discusses tax-related matters when the Minister of Land speaks, and the Prime Minister says something different regarding the greenbelt issue."

He added, "Ordinary citizens have no idea whose words to trust regarding housing policy," and said, "I hope the President, who holds the ultimate responsibility for economic policy, will make a decisive decision." He also mentioned cases of delayed marriage registration or divorce due to tax issues, pointing out, "I hope you deeply consider how the public anger expressed as tax resistance ultimately affects the situation."

Regarding the investigation into the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment allegations, he said, "It seems that a clear investigation policy has not yet been decided," and criticized, "It appears they think the Seoul city government's internal investigation can resolve this, but no one trusts the city's own investigation. Public authority must conduct the investigation."

He continued, "I tried to avoid talking about the judiciary as much as possible, but the reality is that public trust in the judiciary is declining," and said, "Recently, the head of the judiciary has told judges to conduct trials at the people's level, but the Constitution states that 'judges shall decide cases according to the law and their conscience,'" demanding an awakening from the judiciary.

Floor leader Joo Ho-young also spoke on judicial independence, saying, "Regarding the recent Channel A reporter's arrest warrant, a judge made a political decision that detention was inevitable to restore trust in the media and prosecution, even though it was not recorded in the documents," and added, "I strongly urge Chief Justice Kim not to leave a disgraceful legacy in history as a Chief Justice who harmed the judiciary's independence and neutrality, and to protect independence and neutrality even now."

The United Future Party plans to submit an impeachment motion against Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on the same day. Floor leader Joo said, "Minister Choo abused various powers under the Prosecutors' Office Act, damaged dignity, and dismissed all prosecutors who were diligent in investigations, harming the independence of investigations more than any other justice minister in history," and expressed hope that many Democratic Party members would also vote in favor in the plenary session.

Regarding the three lease laws, he criticized, "The rent cap system is ultimately a law made under the expectation that monthly rent will also surge due to the ripple effect of rising house prices," and said, "As lawmaker Jin said, they assume house prices will not fall and expect them to rise, so they say they are introducing a cap system. The policy itself is inconsistent and contradictory."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.