"2~3 Billion Won Range Gimpo Apartments Here" Kim Min-hee's Post Angers Gimpo Citizens

Gimpo Citizens "Mocking Specific Apartment Complex"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is preparing for a broadcast at the '2022 Presidential Candidate Invitation Debate' hosted by the Korea Journalists Association and jointly organized by six broadcasting companies, held on the afternoon of the 11th at the Maeil Business Newspaper Media Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, is facing growing anger from Gimpo citizens over his statement during the presidential TV debate on the 11th that "house prices in the Gimpo area are in the 200 to 300 million KRW range." In particular, right after this remark, former lawmaker Choi Min-hee, who serves as the head of the media special advisory group for the Democratic Party's election campaign committee, posted a supportive message for the candidate on Facebook, which has only intensified the backlash.

An online cafe for the Gimpo area in Gyeonggi Province posted on the 14th a message titled "Immediately dismiss former lawmaker Choi Min-hee who mocked 500,000 Gimpo citizens" and protested against the ruling party.

The Gimpo citizen who wrote the post condemned, "A former National Assembly member blinded by factional logic shockingly singled out and mocked a specific apartment in Gimpo," adding, "This is an insulting remark not only to Gimpo but also to countless ordinary people living in mid-to-low priced apartments nationwide who are enduring difficult lives during the COVID-19 pandemic."

He further pointed out, "What is even more surprising is that former lawmaker Choi openly posted on Facebook about a specific apartment in Gimpo, which has nothing to do with her," and said, "This could constitute an infringement of property rights and defamation against the residents of that apartment."

Former lawmaker Choi Min-hee, who served as the head of the Media Special Advisory Group for the Democratic Party's Election Countermeasures Committee, sparked controversy by revealing the name of a specific apartment in Gimpo and its sale price. / Photo by Choi Min-hee Facebook capture

He continued, "(Former lawmaker Choi) is attempting to 'sak-twi' (a slang term meaning deleting a post and running away) the Facebook post amid the controversy, but this is nothing more than trying to cover the sky with paper," urging, "The Democratic Party's election committee should immediately apologize to the 500,000 Gimpo citizens for the insulting remarks and promptly dismiss and isolate former lawmaker Choi."

Earlier, right after the second TV debate among presidential candidates on the 11th, former lawmaker Choi posted on her Facebook a message titled "Immediate fact-check on Sim Sang-jung's remarks." She pointed to an apartment in Gimpo listed for about 320 million KRW and mentioned, "Here. Here. There are apartments priced at 200 to 300 million KRW?" but deleted the post after the controversy erupted.

During the TV debate that day, candidate Lee and Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, clashed over regional housing prices. When Lee claimed, "A 20-pyeong (approximately 66 square meters) house can be sold for 200 to 300 million KRW," Sim asked, "In which area are there houses priced at 200 to 300 million KRW?"

Lee responded, "In places like Gimpo, it is possible."

Candidate Lee (left) and Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, are greeting each other before the debate started on the 11th. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, immediately after Lee's remark, some Gimpo citizens expressed dissatisfaction toward him, calling it a "derogatory comment about Gimpo."

As the controversy grew, the Democratic Party's election campaign public relations team issued a statement the next day (the 12th), explaining, "The intention was to say that 20-pyeong apartments exclusively for youth housing near Gimpo Airport land could be sold in the 200 to 300 million KRW range."

They added, "It was not that the current 20-pyeong apartments in Gimpo are priced at 200 to 300 million KRW, but rather an explanation of a housing pledge for young people suffering from skyrocketing house prices under the current disadvantageous subscription system based on a point system, with insufficient economic assets," elaborating, "The pledge was to supply new housing at about half the current market price to help young people and the homeless achieve home ownership."

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