"Did you find a Jeonse house?" Hong Jun-pyo's question... Hong Nam-gi "It's a personal matter, so later"

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki is responding at the plenary meeting of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 9th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 9th, Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, avoided giving a direct answer regarding the so-called 'Jeonse refugee' controversy surrounding him.

During the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee on the same day, independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo asked Deputy Prime Minister Hong, "Have you found a Jeonse house?" In response, Hong said, "If I publicly disclose my personal situation, the media keeps reporting on it," and added, "I will tell you later."

Earlier, the 'Jeonse refugee' controversy involving Deputy Prime Minister Hong arose when he had to find a new Jeonse house due to the landlord of his Jeonse residence in Mapo, Seoul, expressing an intention to move in.

Independent lawmaker Hong Jun-pyo is speaking at the National Assembly Defense Committee plenary session on the 6th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

When lawmaker Hong asked about measures to address the Jeonse crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Hong said, "The sales market is showing a relatively stable and steady trend, but the Jeonse market prices are not falling and remain unstable," adding, "We are steadily implementing existing measures while the ministries are consulting on various ideas."

In response to Hong's answer, lawmaker Hong criticized, "The market keeps rejecting the government's announced measures, so instead of forcing unsuitable policies, they should be changed in the desired direction."

He also criticized, "The government is bullying companies, pushing leftist economic policies, ruining self-employed people and small businesses with the strange theory of income-led growth, and recently causing chaos by creating the Fair Economy Three Acts."

He continued, "If the Deputy Prime Minister runs the economy like this, how will he take responsibility later?" and raised his voice, "Do you know why former Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-yeon refused and left such a good position?"

Deputy Prime Minister Hong countered, "I find it hard to agree with the claim of bullying companies. The government is mobilizing all fiscal and policy resources to overcome the COVID-19 crisis."

Regarding Deputy Prime Minister Hong's recent announcement of his intention to resign, which was rejected by President Moon leading him to retain his position, lawmaker Hong sarcastically asked, "Was your previous resignation announcement made out of anger?"

Deputy Prime Minister Hong responded, "I expressed my intention to resign sincerely," adding, "It's not that I am doing well, but I am doing my best within my capacity to work diligently."

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