![Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun bows his head and apologizes at a regular briefing held at the joint briefing room of the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 11th, prior to the announcement of the results of the first investigation of allegations of land speculation in the third new city. [이승환 기자]](https://i0.wp.com/file.mk.co.kr/meet/neds/2021/03/image_readtop_2021_235437_16154543474570251.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun bows his head and apologizes at a regular briefing held at the joint briefing room of the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 11th, prior to the announcement of the results of the first investigation of allegations of land speculation in the third new city. [이승환 기자]“We investigated 14,000 people, and there were only 7 additional suspects of speculation? Who believes the results of this survey?”
The announcement of the results of the first investigation on allegations of speculation by the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) by the Government Joint Investigation Group is causing public resentment. This is because it was revealed that the actual investigation process was lax, unlike the government and ruling party’s high-ranking remarks that’I will pick up the roots’ and’I will search like this.’
Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun announced the results of the first investigation by the government joint investigation team at the government office in Seoul on the 11th and said, “As a result of investigating the land owned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and 14,000 LH employees, 20 suspected speculation cases were found.” . Among them, 13 are the personnel identified by LH through its own investigation right after the disclosure of the meeting of lawyers for democratic society on the 2nd. This means that only 7 people were caught in a week by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Security, the National Police Agency, Gyeonggi-do and Incheon Metropolitan City, etc., which were launched on the 4th, centering on the Prime Minister’s Office.
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In particular, it is being criticized for omitting an investigation into the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and LH employee families. In the meantime, the government has repeatedly emphasized, “We will thoroughly investigate the spouse as well as the direct existence so that there will be no suspicion.” In response, Prime Minister Jung explained, “As unnecessary friction may arise in the process of obtaining consent for the use of personal information from family members, we decided to hand over this to the joint investigation headquarters led by the police.
However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH staff responded, “I have already filled out all the consent forms for my family, but I can’t understand it.” One LH employee said, “I received and submitted all consent forms from mother to child, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” An official from the Korea Real Estate Agency, which operates the real estate transaction information system that the investigation team said it would use, said, “If you have a consent form, you can simply enter the relevant resident registration number to check whether or not you have real estate.” You can pick it up,” he explained.
Prime Minister Chung’s statement that he was uncomfortable with obtaining consent and handed it over to the Joint Investigation Headquarters is also embarrassing to investigative agencies. An official of an investigative agency asked, “There is no way to forcibly investigate property details for families whose charges are not confirmed as an investigative agency.”
The reason for not revealing specific LH reform plans is also questionable. Prime Minister Chung said, “We will prepare innovative measures to cut out the existing ills and degenerate the evils, centered on the Deputy Prime Minister of Economy, so that LH can perform its original mission properly,” he said. “We will make concrete innovation plans with the opinions of various fields in the future.” Mentioned.
Regarding this, a real estate expert said, “LH-led new city development plan, as well as public-led development, which is the core of 2·4 supply measures, is receiving great distrust from the people.” I expected it, but it ended with a horse feast.”
While announcing the results of the survey, there were many comments that it was absurd to declare a war on real estate speculation. Nam Mo (65), who is engaged in the real estate development industry, said, “The reason the public was angry is that officials used the information obtained on the job to increase personal property.” I think it’s steaming,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chung mentioned on the day that “Minister Byun Chang-heum cannot be free from responsibility.”
Prime Minister Chung said, “I know the people’s worries and feelings very well. So, I’m thinking about what kind of action is needed.” Minister Byun served as President of LH from April 2019 to December 2020. Some of the passports prevailed in the cautious view of Byeon’s move, but it is interpreted that Prime Minister Chung directly aimed at Byeon and emphasized his responsibilities, implying a hardship toward Minister Byeon.
The Blue House is first drawing a line on the responsibility of Minister Byeon. An official at the Blue House explained, “There is nothing different from the air current that emphasized the unshakable promotion of the 2·4 countermeasures to Minister Byeon along with the investigation of allegations of speculation.” Although the opinion of responsibility toward Minister Byeon is in full swing, President Moon may face a lame duck crisis at the end of his tenure if Minister Byeon falls down early. However, the possibility of the resignation of Minister Byun cannot be ruled out, with the ruling party’s hard demand for the public sentiment arising ahead of the next month’s 4/7 by-election, and even Prime Minister Chung’s proposal for dismissal.
[김동은 기자 / 연규욱 기자 / 김형주 기자]
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