[Comprehensive] "Won't Cling to Position"... Calls for 'Byeon Chang-heum Resignation' Surge Within the Democratic Party

11 Cases During Byeon Chang-heum's Tenure as LH President Among 20 Suspected Speculators
Key Ruling Party Figures Say "If There Is a Problem, Responsibility Must Be Taken"
Lee Nak-yeon: "I Firmly Believe He Is Not Clinging to His Position"

Minister Byeon Chang-heum of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As the fallout from the '3rd New Town Land Speculation Allegations' involving employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) continues to spread uncontrollably, calls for the resignation of Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Byun Chang-heum, a former LH president, are growing even within the ruling party.

On the 11th, demands for Minister Byun's resignation emerged for the first time within the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea. Noh Woong-rae, a Supreme Council member, wrote on his Facebook post regarding the first joint investigation team results announced by the government that day, "Seven additional suspects of new town speculation have been identified, but it is difficult to see this as a satisfactory investigation result," adding, "At this rate, the thorough eradication the President mentioned is out of the question, and the suspicions will continue to multiply like peeling onion layers."

Supreme Council member Noh further stated, "Clumsy responses will only worsen the situation," and urged, "At the very least, Minister Byun Chang-heum, who was the LH president at the time, and the acting LH president who was the head of the Gyeonggi regional headquarters should take responsibility and decide their positions."

Supreme Council member Kim Jong-min said in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the same day, "If Minister Byun had command responsibility or problems while serving as minister or LH president, he must be held accountable," and added, "Even if not, the government needs to take a responsible stance in response to the public's anger."

Lee Nak-yeon, the standing election committee chairman, also indirectly pressured by saying, after holding a meeting with merchants at Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in response to a question about the calls for dismissal within the Democratic Party, "I firmly believe that Minister Byun Chang-heum is not someone who clings to his position."

The Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) Gwangmyeong-Siheung Project Headquarters in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province./Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Hae-young, former lawmaker and head of the Busan City Party’s by-election pledge committee, also urged on his Facebook that day, "Minister Byun bears considerable responsibility for management and supervision," and added, "I believe he has lost the public's trust to handle real estate policies. A decisive action is necessary."

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Boo-kyum also appeared on MBN's 'News Wide' on the 10th, saying, "Isn't this something that happened when Minister Byun himself was the LH president?" and emphasized, "The Minister of Land must take responsibility. Therefore, I think he should resign," supporting the resignation calls.

Regarding Minister Byun's position, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun responded after announcing the first results of the government joint investigation team, "I understand the public's worries and feelings well. Therefore, I am carefully considering what measures are necessary."

Meanwhile, the government announced that, according to the first investigation results of the joint investigation team that day, in addition to the 13 people initially pointed out when the civic group first raised speculation allegations, seven more were found, totaling 20 individuals. Among them, 11 people purchased new town land during Minister Byun’s tenure as LH president.

The joint investigation team plans to request investigation by a special investigation headquarters for these 20 individuals and conduct a second investigation targeting local government and local public enterprise employees, as well as spouses and direct relatives of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH employees.

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