Participation Solidarity and Minbyun Press Conference
“The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH urged to thoroughly investigate allegations of speculation in the new city.”
YouTube capture.” alt=”Attorneys’ Association for Participation Solidarity and Democratic Society (Minbyun), employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) hold a press conference on allegations of pre-purchase of land in new cities in Gwangmyeong and Siheung. Attorneys’ Association for Participation Solidarity and Democratic Society (Minbyun), employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) hold a press conference on allegations of pre-purchase of land in new cities in Gwangmyeong and Siheung. <참여연대> Save YouTube.
Suspicion was raised that employees of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) purchased tens of millions of pyeong of land for speculation in the Gwangmyeong and Siheung new city districts in advance. In exposing these suspicions, civil society groups urged the entire new city to clarify how many preliminary speculation activities of LH employees, their families, and government officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have been conducted. On the 2nd, the Association of Participation and Attorneys’ Association for Democratic Society (Minbyun) held a press conference and explained these contents, saying, “There is a high possibility of violation of the obligation to prevent conflicts of interest under the Public Officials Ethics Act and the prohibition of business secrets under the Anti-Corruption Act. I will charge for it.” According to the analysis by the Minbyun People’s Economic Committee and the Solidarity of Participation, from April 2018 to June 2020, 10 LH executives and employees and their spouses, including their spouses, took up 7,000 shares of land in Gwarim-dong and Mujinae-dong, Siheung-si. The situation of the share purchase was revealed. Kim Tae-geun, chairman of the Minbyun Economic Committee, said, “I received a report that LH employees bought land for speculation, and as a result of checking the land ledger in the region, we confirmed these details.” It is estimated that only loans through institutions amount to 5.8 billion won.” If such information is found to be true, it may be punished by a’seven year imprisonment or a fine not exceeding 70 million won’ for violating the Anti-Corruption Act, which is an act of corruption using secrets learned during work.
material photo” alt=”Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do. Material photo” />
Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do. <한겨레> Material photo
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 24th of last month that it will designate Gwangmyeong and Siheung districts as the 6th out of the 3rd new cities in the metropolitan area according to the government’s measures to supply 2 and 4 housing. The district was evaluated as the largest among the 3 new cities with a plan to supply a total of 70,000 households to 12.71 million m2 (approximately 384,000 pyeong) in Gwangmyeong-dong, Okgil-dong, Noonsa-dong, Gahak-dong, Siheung-si, Gwarim-dong, Mujinae-dong, and Geumi-dong in Siheung-si. The results of this survey are the result of confirming only data on some lands, and if the survey is expanded to the entire Gwangmyeong and Siheung new towns and purchased land under the name of an employee’s spouse or relative, more cases will come out, these organizations report. Participation Solidarity and Minbyeon target the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH △Whether LH executives and employees acquired the relevant land development information in advance, including plans for the 3rd new city designation △Of the land owners of Gwangmyeong and Siheung new cities, public officials belonging to government departments such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, LH △The status of land ownership, date of acquisition, and process of acquisition of new city land purchase officials and employees △Whether LH managed information on candidate sites for new cities as confidential business △Manages the pre-acquisition of land ownership in Gwangmyeong and Siheung new cities A public interest audit was requested for the reasons why the supervision was not done. Attorney Kang-Hoon Lee (Executive Committee member of the People’s Livelihood Hope Headquarters of the Participation Solidarity) said, “A legislation is needed to strengthen punishment for speculation in the real estate market of public officials. We have to investigate.” By Jae-ho Lee, staff reporter [email protected]