Calls to dismiss Vice Minister Lee Sang-gyeong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have emerged within the ruling party after remarks that sparked controversy, saying, "If home prices fall, you can buy."
Park Gee-won of the Democratic Party of Korea appeared on CBS Radio on the 23rd and said, "Can a vice minister, the official in charge of real estate at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) who should be explaining real estate policy well to our people, make remarks that rub salt in the wound while personally owning a home?" adding, "It would be best to take responsibility and resign."
Following Supreme Council member Han Jun-ho of the Democratic Party making an official apology for the vice minister's remarks the previous day, a demand for resignation under a real name has now emerged within the party.
Park said, "Minister Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) should submit a recommendation for dismissal of the vice minister to Prime Minister Kim Min-seok," and argued, "The president should hold (Lee) accountable and remove (Lee) without question."
Park said, "As of this morning, the vice minister has not budged," adding, "If a party supreme council member says they will apologize, (Lee) should recognize, 'I must take responsibility.'" Park also said, "If (Lee) knowingly tries to brazen it out, that is a very shameless person."
The Democratic Party leadership drew a line on Park's demand for resignation, calling it a "personal opinion." Floor spokesperson Moon Geum-ju met with reporters after the party's National Assembly inspection countermeasures meeting and said, "There has been no separate discussion about resignation."
It was revealed that the vice minister's spouse engaged in "gap investing," purchasing a home with a jeonse tenant in place. The vice minister's wife, a person surnamed Han, bought a 117-square-meter exclusive-area unit at Pangyo Prugio Grand Bleu in Baekhyeon-dong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province—an area subject to regulations under the latest real estate measures—in July last year for 3.35 billion won. Han signed a two-year jeonse contract for 1.48 billion won on Oct. 5, before the balance payment date, and bought the home through gap investing.