Lee Jun-seok on Yoon Hee-sook's Resignation over 'Real Estate Speculation Allegations': "Anti-Corruption Commission Is Truly Barbaric... Raising Suspicions in a Guilt-by-Association Manner"

When Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the People Power Party, declared her resignation from the National Assembly on the 24th following allegations of violating the Farmland Act in the comprehensive real estate survey by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Lee Jun-seok came to the press conference venue to dissuade her. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, condemned the real estate full-scale investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, which triggered Rep. Yoon Hee-sook's resignation and decision to forgo the presidential race, calling it "truly barbaric" to raise suspicions in a form of collective responsibility.

On the morning of the 25th, Lee attended Rep. Yoon's press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, where she announced her withdrawal from the presidential race and resignation from the National Assembly, and tried to dissuade her. Right after the press conference, Lee told reporters, "Rep. Yoon has done nothing wrong and said she is taking responsibility herself, but I am confident there is nothing to be held accountable for," adding, "I hope she reconsiders this decision. As party leader, I am convinced that her presence in the National Assembly is most valuable."

Regarding the Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation results, he criticized, "It is truly barbaric to raise suspicions in a form of collective responsibility over matters that at least do not meet the constituent elements or where the individual lawmaker was not the owner or the acting party."

At the press conference that day, Rep. Yoon stated, "As of this moment, I will stop my journey toward the presidential candidate primary. I will also return my National Assembly seat to the constituents of Seocho-gap and the people."

Earlier, on the 23rd, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission raised allegations of illegal real estate transactions involving 12 lawmakers from the People Power Party or their families. In response, the People Power Party expelled proportional representative Rep. Han Mu-kyung and demanded the withdrawal of Reps. Kang Ki-yoon, Lee Joo-hwan, Lee Cheol-gyu, Jung Chan-min, and Choi Chun-sik. The remaining six, including Rep. Yoon, were judged to have no personal issues or sufficient explanations.

In Rep. Yoon's case, the issue was that her father purchased 10,871 square meters of farmland in Sinbang-ri, Jeonui-myeon, Sejong City, in May 2016 but did not farm it directly. It was also revealed during the Anti-Corruption Commission's on-site investigation that her registered address was moved from Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, to Sejong City.

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