"No Sympathy"... Cold Public Opinion Despite LH Employees' Extreme Choices

The Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters of LH in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, where Mr. A, former head of the Jeonbuk branch of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), took his own life on the 12th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Amid recent news of the death of a Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) employee related to new town speculation allegations, public opinion toward LH remains cold.

Recently, hundreds of posts related to LH speculation allegations have been uploaded on 'Blind,' an anonymous community for office workers.

In the early stages of the speculation allegations, many posts presumed to be from LH employees included comments such as "I can't hear (the voices of protesting citizens) because I'm on a high floor. Sleeping like a baby," "If you're upset, just change jobs," and "No matter how much you guys explode with jealousy, I'll keep speculating under a borrowed name and enjoy my retirement." As these facts came to light, netizens' criticism intensified.

Following the discovery of the body of LH executive-level official A (56) in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 12th, and the finding of 50-year-old employee B dead in Paju on the 13th, posts containing reckless insults and criticism toward the deceased began appearing on Blind.

One office worker said, "It's not something to say to someone who has died, but the law that all cases end when someone makes an extreme choice needs to be changed," adding, "Because cases end when someone makes an extreme choice, these situations occur." Another member mocked, "LH folks, don't make extreme choices; turn yourselves in and find Gwangmyeong. Isn't it enough to admit, apologize, and give back (ill-gotten gains)?"

As attention focuses on the successive deaths of LH employees, some inappropriate posts by netizens are causing public disapproval.

News of the extreme choices made by LH employees has been reported, and some netizens' excessive disrespect toward the deceased has become an issue.
/Photo by 'Blind' capture

Meanwhile, according to the northern Gyeonggi Police Station, at around 10:50 a.m. on the 13th, 50-year-old LH employee B was found dead in a container in Sambang-ri, Beopwon-eup, Paju City.

Earlier, on the previous day, 50-year-old LH executive-level official A was found dead in Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. A suicide note containing messages such as "I am sorry to the people" and "I deeply feel responsible" was found at A's home. Despite the successive news of LH employees' extreme choices, public opinion remains cold, creating a restless atmosphere within LH.

With Byun Chang-heum, former LH president and current Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, expressing his intention to resign and even rumors of the organization's dissolution being raised, the crisis within the organization is palpable, and employees are worried, saying, "We can't focus on work."

※ If you have difficult-to-talk-about concerns such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling at suicide prevention hotlines ☎1577-0199, Hope Phone ☎129, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, and Youth Phone ☎1388.

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