'Unified Party Real Estate No.1' Park Deokheum: "It's a house to live in for life, but I'm angry because the house price went up"

Park Deok-heum, member of the United Future Party./Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Recently, as the multi-home ownership status of United Future Party lawmakers was disclosed, controversy has arisen over Representative Park Deokheum, known as the top real estate holder in the party, who stated, "I am angry because house prices have risen."

In an interview with MBC's investigative reporting program 'Straight' aired on the 2nd, Representative Park said, "I live in a house where I have to live for my whole life, and when house prices go up, I only pay more taxes and health insurance. What benefit do I get from this?"

On that day, reporters pointed out that Representative Park has served as a member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee responsible for real estate policy for six years, from the 19th to the 21st National Assembly, questioning whether his multi-home ownership constitutes a 'conflict of interest.'

In response, Representative Park rebutted, "A conflict of interest occurs only if I benefit," adding, "I am currently someone who is angry because house prices have risen."

He continued, "A 500 million won house became 1 billion won, and that 1 billion won house is now 2.5 billion won," criticizing the government's real estate policy by saying, "People want to move to better houses with their children, but now they cannot."

He added, "That situation is very regrettable," and "The policy is going in the opposite direction for ordinary people."

Earlier, the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice released the 'Analysis Report on Real Estate Assets of 21st United Future Party Lawmakers' on the 28th of last month. According to this data, Representative Park reported real estate assets worth 28.894 billion won, the highest among United Future Party lawmakers.

It was confirmed that Representative Park currently owns 3 apartments, 1 detached house, 2 commercial buildings, 2 warehouses, 1 pier, and 36 land parcels.

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