“Should I leave the fish to the cat”… 12,000 people participated in the petition for the withdrawal of the 3rd new city in two days

Input 2021.03.07 15:53 ​​| Revision 2021.03.07 18:30

While suspicion that some Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) employees had speculated in advance at the planned sites of Gwangmyeong and Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, a petition from the Blue House to withdraw the third new town appeared.

On the 5th, the petitioner petitioned, “Please withdraw the designation of the 3rd new city led by LH. Should I leave the fish to the cat?” However, about 12,000 people agreed to this petition by the afternoon of the 7th, two days after it was posted.

The petition for the withdrawal of the 3rd new town is known to have been systematically agreed by residents of the 1st new town, Goyang Ilsan and the 2nd new town, Paju Unjeong. These regions have voiced strong opposition since the inclusion of Goyang Changneung in the 3rd new town.

Earlier, a petition for the dismissal of Minister Byeon Chang-heum of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and a petition to conduct a state affairs audit was posted on the Blue House petition bulletin board. Among them, 18,000 petitions for the conduct of the audit on the last 3rd and 2,500 petitions for the dismissal of Minister Byeon Chang-heum agreed by the afternoon of the 7th.

Some say that the Blue House petitions related to the LH pre-speculation allegations are attracting attention because of the public’s suspicion of the government’s willingness to investigate and punish.

After convening a meeting of real estate-related ministers on the 7th, Hong Nam-ki, deputy prime minister of the economy and the Minister of Strategy and Finance, said, “Both the public officials and public officials should take this as an opportunity to accept the wounds of the people endlessly and heavily.” I will try to make sure that the individual’s motivation for aberration is fundamentally blocked, and in the event of a significant deviation, we will also consider reinforcing the management responsibility of the entire organization.”

Deputy Prime Minister Hong said, “In this case, if real estate speculation is confirmed in a joint investigation by the government, we will take non-tolerant measures such as request for investigation and disciplinary measures.” In addition, it will limit the acquisition of licenses for real estate-related industries so that it will not enter the real estate market.

The main secretary, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Byeon Chang-heum, also said, “The role of the joint investigation team organized under the command of the Prime Minister’s Office is to first select those suspected of misconduct among the tens of thousands of investigation targets. “The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, LH employees, and their families also announced a policy to investigate tens of thousands of people. “In the case of retirees, as they are civilians, there is a limit to the investigation, but if abnormal land transactions are detected, we will devise additional investigation measures,” he said. “If judicial action is required, we plan to respond through complaints and accusations.”

Despite the government’s expression of’will to punish’, public opinion is cold. Most of all, there is a lot of antipathy for the appearance of Minister Byeon, who was the president of LH at the time when the employees’ pre-speculation suspicions appeared, as the’investigation subject’. It is questionable whether the person in charge who should be the subject of investigation can clearly reveal where he is responsible. In fact, the ethical rules that Minister Byeon enacted at the time of LH President’s office had no case of proper detection or disciplinary action.

In the meantime, Minister Byun said in a media interview, “It seems that the employees did not know the development information and bought the land in advance. I bought the land because it was not possible to develop a new city, but it seems that it was suddenly designated as a new city.” It is stupid. It has no merit to buy Su-yong as a connoisseur.” The fact that he said, “I have no merit as a connoisseur,” fueled public opinion on fire.

Regarding Minister Byeon’s remarks, some members of the ruling Democratic Party also said, “As the main secretary and former LH president, Minister Byeon sprinkled salt on the wounds of the people with remarks that seemed to defend LH employees even though he had to feel a heavy moral responsibility.” Right now, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH are receiving distrust from the people, so the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport should be removed from the investigation team.” (Rep. Park Yong-jin), etc.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol also contributed to the public distrust and criticism. In a media interview on the 6th, Yun said, “It is a’crime of the ruined country’ to steal public information and speculate on real estate,'” and said, “It is an issue that requires immediate and extensive’investigation’.” “A lot of people are angry at this ridiculous injustice and corruption,” he said. “Corruption is spreading quickly, and it is the duty of the state to stop it.”

An opposition official said, “The Cheong Wa Dae petition related to LH pre-speculation is only the beginning,” he said. “If the government and the ruling party try to inquire about the matter appropriately in a’blindfolded aung’ way as it is now, the aftermath will be even bigger.”