Yoon Hee-sook: "I Report Myself to the Corruption Investigation Office... We Must Oust Lee Jae-myung and Kim Eo-jun"

"Father Will Stand by No Matter the Disposition"
Ruling Party Lawmakers Who Raised Suspicions Should Resign If Cleared

On the afternoon of the 27th, Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the People Power Party who declared her resignation from the National Assembly and withdrawal from the presidential primary race, is refuting allegations regarding her father's illegal real estate transactions and suspicions that she was involved in them at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the People Power Party who resigned from her parliamentary seat amid allegations of her father's real estate speculation, announced that she will request an investigation into herself by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC). However, she insisted that if she is cleared of all charges, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, who attacked her, should be driven out of the political arena.

On the 27th, Yoon held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, "I am now requesting an investigation into myself by the PCC. If the PCC cannot handle it, I will request the Joint Investigation Headquarters (JIH) again." She added, "Facing an investigation for the first time in my life, I will overcome the fear and shame that ordinary people feel on my own," and explained, "This is my politics that protects the people's perspective without vested interests."

Yoon clarified a series of allegations by revealing a handwritten letter from her father and expert analysis. Currently, she is under suspicion that her father purchased farmland in Sejong City in 2016 aiming for speculative gains. In the letter, her father stated, "I never imagined that preparing for a peaceful old age would cause such a big storm," and "The profits from the sale of the farmland in question will be fully returned to society as soon as it is sold."

A handwritten letter from the father posted on Facebook by Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the People Power Party, on the 27th
[Photo by Yoon Hee-sook, member of the People Power Party]

Additionally, through expert opinions, she addressed suspicions that she might have used development information of the Sejong Smart National Industrial Complex while working at the Korea Development Institute (KDI). According to the expert opinion she disclosed, "In the case of the Sejong Smart National Industrial Complex, the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) typically takes about 3 to 5 years from conception, site selection, development, to basic planning," and "During this period, development information is usually shared with related citizens." This means the information was publicly available and was not leaked separately. Regarding the rise in surrounding official land prices, it was explained that "the official land prices across Sejong City increased, causing the rise," and "usually, moving into an industrial complex is not a particularly positive factor for land prices."

Regarding her father's speculation allegations, Yoon said, "I do not deny that my father may have violated the Farmland Act and Resident Registration Act and that there is room for suspicion of speculation," adding, "My father is sincerely undergoing investigation and will take legal responsibility according to the results, and I will stand by him regardless of any legal measures."

She explained that she held the press conference due to attacks from ruling party politicians after her resignation. Yoon said, "Over the past two days, I thought I could no longer tolerate ruling party politicians spewing excessive and insulting remarks about me," and criticized, "The false agitation, seemingly carried out systematically under someone's instructions, has rather snowballed."

She then mentioned Democratic Party presidential candidate Kim Du-kwan, and Democratic Party lawmakers Woo Won-shik, Kim Yong-min, Kim Nam-guk, Jeon Jae-soo, Jang Kyung-tae, Shin Hyun-young, Min Hyung-bae, Han Jun-ho, Democratic Party Supreme Council member Kim Young-bae, and independent lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young, who raised allegations of her real estate speculation, calling them "self-confessions of political scoundrels who have spent their lives engaging in conspiratorial politics and only call for reform with their mouths." She also argued that if she is cleared after investigation, all of them should resign from their parliamentary seats.

Targeting Governor Lee, she called him "the top of the conspiracy" and said, "If I am cleared of all charges, you, Governor Lee, should immediately resign and leave politics." Regarding Kim, she said, "On what grounds are you manipulating public opinion by claiming a sixfold increase and a 3 billion won speculative gain? After Ferragamo, is it now 3 billion won?" and emphasized, "Disappear from the public space along with Governor Lee."

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