Lee Jae-myung: "Housing Prices Soared During Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon's Term" vs Lee Nak-yeon: "Designed Before Daejang-dong"

The Democratic Party's Final Debate Also Focused on the 'Daejang-dong Scandal'
Lee Nak-yeon: "Surprised That Daejang-dong Was Called a Boon"
Lee Jae-myung: "People Power Party Illegally Profited"

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, is preparing for a debate at a TV debate held at OBS in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Democratic Party presidential candidates Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province and former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon engaged in a fierce battle over allegations of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development project in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province.

At a TV debate hosted by OBS on the 5th, former leader Lee launched an offensive by raising the responsibility of Governor Lee, who was the mayor of Seongnam at the time of the Daejang-dong project. Governor Lee rebutted each point and countered with the responsibility for the skyrocketing real estate prices.

In his opening remarks that day, former leader Lee targeted Governor Lee, saying, "The Daejang-dong incident has become a heavy burden for the Democratic Party. I cannot sleep at night wondering if we can win the presidential election while carrying this unstable situation." He then questioned, "I was surprised to hear you say at the last debate that the Daejang-dong issue is a 'favorable factor' for the Democratic Party. Can you really call it a favorable factor in the face of the people's anger and sense of loss?"

In response, Governor Lee said, "Candidate Lee Nak-yeon seems to be focusing only on my issues," and claimed, "It became an opportunity to acknowledge that Lee Jae-myung recovered even 500 billion won within institutional limits. Where else can you find a local leader who works this hard? By achieving licensing results, we paid off Seongnam City's debt and gained recognition for our capabilities."

Former leader Lee then criticized again, saying, "If I had been the mayor of Seongnam, I might have said I would turn it into an opportunity for a turnaround, but I would not have called it a favorable factor. I wonder if this is a difference in sensitivity."

Democratic Party presidential candidate and former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon is preparing for a debate at the presidential candidate TV debate held at OBS in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News

Governor Lee, on the contrary, raised the responsibility of former leader Lee. He argued, "Since 2018, housing prices have risen. During the time (former leader Lee) was Prime Minister, housing prices skyrocketed, increasing developers' profits by 300 to 400 billion won." Former leader Lee rebutted, "You say housing and land prices rose since 2018, but the (Daejang-dong) planning was done before that. It is not appropriate to speak as if you bear no responsibility."

Former leader Lee also criticized Governor Lee's attitude regarding the arrest of Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who was responsible for designing the profit structure of the Daejang-dong project. Former leader Lee pointed out, "Recently, someone who worked with Candidate Lee was arrested," and said, "Your response was unclear as to whether it was an apology or not."

Governor Lee responded, "How many accidents happened when (former leader Lee) was Governor of Jeonnam and Prime Minister? I hope you think about it the same way," and former leader Lee replied, "I did not act like Candidate Lee. I apologized much more deeply," refusing to back down.

Governor Lee countered, "Aren't you a member of the Democratic Party?" and said, "The core issue is that the People Power Party took unfair profits, but you keep raising problems only internally, which is frustrating."

Former leader Lee pressured again, saying, "In the 2017 presidential candidate debate, Candidate Lee Jae-myung said to then-candidate Moon Jae-in, 'The moment we become lenient with ourselves, the people will fall into despair again.' Compared to Candidate Lee's attitude at that time, I am exercising tremendous restraint."

Governor Lee replied, "I will do my best to ensure that such deviations never happen again," and added, "I promise to take responsibility by reforming the system and strictly holding people accountable."

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