"All Members of the National Assembly Received It... Presidential Candidates Unite in Calling for Real Estate Verification"

507 National Assembly Members' Real Estate Full Survey by Anti-Corruption Commission
Ruling and Opposition Presidential Candidates Also Call for 'Real Estate Verification'
Hong Jun-pyo "All Presidential Candidates Must Undergo Verification"
Choi Jae-hyung "Considering Public Anger... Must Lead by Example"
Jung Se-kyun "Leaders Must Be Clean"

On the 23rd, Hong Jun-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, urged that "all presidential candidates, regardless of party affiliation, must undergo real estate verification." / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Amid the full-scale investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) bringing to light suspicions of real estate speculation and illegal transactions among ruling and opposition party lawmakers, voices calling for 'real estate verification' of presidential candidates are growing louder. Given the public's strong anger over real estate issues, there are calls for presidential candidates to set an example.

The candidate who took the first step in 'real estate verification for presidential candidates' is Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party. At a press conference held at the People Power Party Daejeon City Party on the 23rd, Rep. Hong emphasized, "All presidential candidates and their families, regardless of party affiliation, must undergo real estate verification," adding, "All lawmakers have been verified, so those who want to run for president must also be verified."

He continued, "To my recollection, the only candidate who has undergone real estate verification is Lee Nak-yeon," and added, "When I was an independent, I voluntarily applied for verification and will undergo it."

Another People Power Party presidential candidate, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, also expressed agreement, saying, "I agree."

In a post on Facebook that day, former Chairman Choi said, "Considering the public anger caused by real estate speculation, those running for president should take the lead," and added, "It would be good to be verified in front of the people."

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is entering a closed-door Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 24th. / Photo by Yonhap News

As calls for real estate verification of presidential candidates grow mainly from the opposition parties, the ruling party’s former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has also emphasized the necessity.

On the 24th, former Prime Minister Chung wrote on his Facebook, "Let’s take this opportunity to properly verify real estate transactions of all ruling and opposition parties. I have consistently advocated for the establishment of a clean verification team and public verification of presidential candidates."

He added, "Leaders must be clean," and emphasized, "I will stand proudly on the public’s verification platform."

Meanwhile, the ACRC announced on the 23rd the results of a full investigation into real estate transactions of a total of 507 people, including lawmakers from the People Power Party, Justice Party, People’s Party, Open Democratic Party, Basic Income Party, and Transition Korea, as well as their spouses and direct relatives. Earlier, in June, 12 lawmakers were found in violation during an investigation targeting the Democratic Party of Korea.

According to the ACRC, in this investigation, 12 lawmakers from the People Power Party were found to have potential legal violations in their own or their family members’ real estate transactions. Among them was Rep. Yoon Hee-sook, who participated in the People Power Party’s presidential primary.

In this regard, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, announced at a press conference after an emergency Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 24th, "We have unanimously agreed to request that some lawmakers, including Kang Ki-yoon, Lee Joo-hwan, Lee Cheol-gyu, Jung Chan-min, Choi Chun-sik, and Han Moo-kyung, voluntarily leave the party and actively cooperate with investigations."

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