Jinseongjun: "Choe Chunsik Should Give Up Apartment and Return Unjust Profits"

Toward LH: "Comprehensive Survey Needed on Public Housing Residency"
Lawmakers and Party Considering Legal Action

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 11th, Jin Seong-jun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference demanding the return of unjust profits from Choi Chun-sik, a member of the People Power Party. He also requested a full survey on the actual residence status of public housing from the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH). At the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit on the 8th, Jin pointed out that Choi, who received a special sale of a public housing apartment in Wirye New Town as a national merit recipient, violated the obligation to reside in public sale housing by never living there since January 2014.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the press conference, Jin stated, “Choi abused the exception clause in the law meant to protect the people to pursue private gain,” and urged, “If he values his honor, he should now give up the illegally owned apartment and return all the unjust profits derived from it.”

He added, “Choi himself admits that he did not reside in the Wirye public housing apartment,” and cited evidence of the residence obligation violation by saying, “In a press release on the 16th of last month, Choi stated that he received approval for a residence deferral from the developer according to the law, and that the deferral was inevitably continued after being elected as a Gyeonggi Province assembly member.”

Jin criticized, “This is illegal. To run for and maintain the position of a Gyeonggi Province assembly member, one must continue to reside in Pocheon County within the metropolitan area,” and pointed out, “A person with conscience should have already applied to the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to repurchase the apartment based on these circumstances.”

He then urged LH and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to prepare countermeasures such as a full survey. He emphasized, “I call for the prosecution of Choi and the recovery of unjust profits,” and “At this time, a comprehensive investigation into the residence and usage status of 32,466 public housing units nationwide, where the residence obligation applies, must be conducted.”

He also suggested that if LH does not take action, individual or party-level prosecution could be considered. After the press conference, he told reporters, “I believe LH should take legal action and I will continue to urge them,” and added, “We will observe the situation, but if no action is taken, I or the party may consider filing a complaint.”

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