People Power Party Real Estate Backlash: "Depends on Public Evaluation"

When Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the People Power Party, who was suspected of violating the Farmland Act in the comprehensive real estate investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, announced her resignation from the National Assembly on the 25th, Lee Jun-seok came to the press conference venue and tried to dissuade her. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The People Power Party is expected to continue a tug-of-war over the demand to expel lawmakers suspected of real estate speculation. The targeted lawmakers are resisting, calling it "political persecution," but the ruling party is pressuring, saying the measures are too weak, making it difficult for the People Power Party leadership to back down further.

On the 25th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, told reporters, "(The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission) presenting such low-level allegations to the legislature should be taken as a great insult," adding, "The investigation result on one lawmaker is just four lines, and there is no content within it. I cannot believe that based on that, they notified us of a matter that could determine a lawmaker's position."

Nevertheless, he emphasized that the demand for resignation would remain unchanged. Lee said, "We have been preparing to form an ethics committee for two weeks. We will form the ethics committee for managing the presidential election, but I hope the ethics committee does not handle this case."

Since the People Power Party currently does not have an ethics committee, the demand for resignation is not a compulsory 'recommendation to resign' but rather a kind of leadership declaration. On the same day, Im Seung-ho, spokesperson for the People Power Party, appeared on KBS Radio and said, "Except for lawmaker Han Mu-gyeong, who was decided to be expelled, if the other five lawmakers do not accept the demand to resign, the public's evaluation may vary depending on how our leadership acts."

Since they claim innocence with statements such as "'If not, so be it' irresponsible measures are witch-hunt style political persecution" (Lee Cheol-gyu), "Deep regret over the party's measures" (Lee Joo-hwan), and "Completely untrue and unacceptable" (Kang Ki-yoon), it seems likely that measures through the ethics committee will be taken.

The Democratic Party criticized the People Power Party's measures as weak and also targeted former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign. Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the highest council meeting that "Among the 12 People Power Party lawmakers suspected of real estate speculation, six were not disciplined because they claimed the property was not owned by them or expressed intent to dispose of it. The 'stronger measures' promised by Lee Jun-seok compared to the Democratic Party have become empty words," adding, "If they trusted the credible investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, they should follow the results and comply with the police's additional investigation requests and explanation procedures. But to give a pass to six lawmakers after party explanations is unacceptable. It's like saving 'Private Yoon Hee-sook' and 'Private Song Seok-jun.'

He continued, "Song Seok-jun, who served as head of the real estate division in Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign, has been nominated as the opposition whip on the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. He holds important real estate-related positions and is even suspected of violating the Building Act by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission," adding, "Among the 12 lawmakers suspected of real estate speculation, five are from Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign, three have resigned from their campaign positions, and two remain. It is questionable whether they are holding out or if former Prosecutor General Yoon is tightly holding on and not letting go. Yoon, who spoke of justice and fairness, should clarify his position."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, criticized both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party collectively. On the same day, he wrote on Facebook, "Among the 12 lawmakers who were recommended to resign by the Democratic Party, 10 have maintained their party membership for nearly three months," and said that although the People Power Party declared 'zero tolerance' and 'stricter standards than the Democratic Party,' it ended not with 'eupchammasok' (ruthless but necessary punishment) but with 'yongdusami' (a strong start but weak finish)."

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