Park Jumin Lowers Rent for Renewal... Kim Geunsik Calls It a "Trick to Silence Resignation"

Park Ju-min, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Kim Geunsik, Head of Vision Strategy Office of the People Power Party, criticized Park Jumin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who raised the monthly rent and caused controversy ahead of the passage of the 'Three Lease Laws,' for recently lowering the monthly rent and renewing the contract, calling it a "trick to quell calls for resignation."

On the 4th, Kim said on his Facebook, "When did you shamelessly and brazenly engage in real estate 'double standards,' and now, if you belatedly lower the rent and renew the contract, does last year's hypocrisy and lies disappear?"

He continued, "It's just a trick to quell the calls for Park's resignation," adding, "Then, if former Blue House Policy Chief Kim Sangjo also renews his contract and lowers the rent for the tenant, can he return to the policy chief position?" Earlier, it was confirmed that former Chief Kim also raised the deposit of his apartment by 14.1% just before the implementation of the Three Lease Laws in July last year, and he was dismissed on the 29th, a day after the controversy.

Kim also said, "Even though the intention is obvious, seeing Song Younggil (Democratic Party) praise him saying 'That's Park Jumin' and 'As expected of the Democratic Party,' it sounds like a self-confession that the Democratic Party itself is a master of 'changing words' and 'muddying the waters.'" He pointed out, "Does suddenly rushing to renew the contract while the contract period remains erase what he did last summer? The public knows what Park Jumin did last summer."

Furthermore, he criticized, "From now on, 'That's Park Jumin' will mean false progressivism with different appearances and intentions, and 'As expected of the Democratic Party' will mean quickly changing words and muddying the waters to hold onto positions."

Geun-sik Kim, Vision Strategy Office of the People Power Party. Photo by Dong-ju Yoon doso7@

Earlier, it was revealed that Park raised the rent of his apartment in Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, by about 9% about a month before the passage of the 'Three Lease Laws' last year. Park was also the main proposer of the 'Housing Lease Protection Act Amendment,' which limits rent increases to 5%, causing a fierce controversy over 'double standards.'

As criticism spread, Park was recently reported to have lowered the monthly rent and renewed the contract with the tenant.

Regarding this, Song Younggil of the same party praised Park on Facebook, saying, "Leaving money aside, accepting criticism and responding with action rather than explanation is truly like Park. It seems to reflect on the negligence and lack of thoroughness in leaving the practice unattended. This is the Democratic Party, and this is Park Jumin."

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