President Lee: "Reports on Infringement of Tenants' Lease Renewal Rights and Chinese Buyers Sweeping Up Apartments Are Manipulation and Distortion"

Reports Claiming Loss of Tenants' Lease Renewal Rights

Lee Outraged: "How Can You Fabricate Articles Like That?"


Criticism of "Chinese Buyers Sweep Up Multiple-Home Owners' Properties" Claims

"It's Deliberately Meant to Incite Ant

President Lee Jae-myung on May 20 criticized articles claiming that "government policy infringes on tenants' contract renewal rights" and "Chinese nationals have recently swept up all apartment listings," describing them as "blatant manipulation and distortion."

While presiding over the Cabinet meeting at the Blue House that afternoon, President Lee referenced the related press coverage, stating, "The tenants' contract renewal right remains intact, does it not?" and rebuked, "Why do you fabricate articles like that and publish such fake news?"

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting combined with the emergency economic inspection meeting held at the Blue House on May 20, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier that day, a media outlet reported that as the government suspended the real residence requirement in land transaction permit zones to encourage multi-homeowners and non-resident single-homeowners to put properties on the market, there were growing side effects such as the disappearance of tenants' contract renewal rights.

In response, President Lee instructed Kim Itak, the First Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, to "respond to such matters strictly." He further criticized, "Reading what they wrote, it is clear they did so deliberately," and added, "Didn't they claim there are tenants who, due to distortion, must be evicted within two years?"

President Lee continued, "How can you write articles in such a way that undermines state affairs?" He pointed out, "There is a tendency to distort and mislead national policy to achieve other aims. This is especially true in the case of real estate speculation."

Additionally, President Lee referred to another article claiming that "Chinese nationals have scooped up all the properties sold by multi-homeowners." He questioned, "Why do you write such false articles?" and remarked, "It is done intentionally to incite anti-Chinese sentiment."

There was also discussion about responses to fake news. When President Lee asked, "Is it not possible to punish the media for spreading falsehoods and causing confusion in policy under the guise of journalism?" Bong Wook, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, replied, "If one gains economic benefits through fake news, criminal punishment is possible."

When President Lee remarked, "It would be difficult to punish the mere act of publishing seemingly respectable print or online articles," Secretary Bong reported, "That is correct. Punishment is only possible in cases where profit is gained, while other cases such as defamation are subject to criminal law."

Furthermore, President Lee urged, "Whether it is requesting a correction or a counterstatement, hold them firmly accountable," and added, "Other ministries should also not overlook such matters."

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