Won Hee-ryong: "Is it right to blame only the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers for the Jeonse measures... Moon Jae-in must take responsibility"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, criticized the government's jeonse (long-term lease) measures, stating that "the ultimate responsibility lies with President Moon Jae-in."

On the 19th, Governor Won said on Facebook, "It's not just about blaming the Deputy Prime Minister or the ministers. This is a joint product of the ruling party, government, and Blue House."

He pointed out, "The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport gave and then took away benefits for private rental housing, and the Deputy Prime Minister is patching up empty houses by converting hotels and commercial buildings, presenting it as a jeonse measure," adding, "I could at least decide the location, but now it seems even that freedom of choice will be suppressed."

Governor Won criticized, "The ultimate responsibility lies with President Moon Jae-in," and questioned, "Didn't he boast last year about 'stabilizing house prices' and claim that 'jeonse and monthly rent prices have already stabilized'?" He added, "At some point, President Moon stopped even mentioning real estate issues."

He said, "They raised apartment prices to collect taxes, and now they say they will purchase vacant commercial buildings, offices, and lodging facilities to supply as jeonse housing. Is this a 'smash and grab' style of raising house prices?" emphasizing, "They should abandon the delusion that the country can decide housing for people in a 'pre-decided answer' manner."

Governor Won also proposed, "Capital gains tax should be temporarily and drastically eased," and suggested, "If combined with strengthening property taxes on multi-homeowners, it can serve as an exit strategy to encourage putting houses on the market."

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