The People Power Party urged the resignation of Vice Minister Lee Sang-gyeong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
On the 24th, Choi Eun-seok, the People Power Party senior floor spokesperson, said in a commentary, "A single remark Vice Minister Lee Sang-gyeong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport blurted out during a YouTube talk was a statement that thoroughly ignored the reality of countless ordinary people shedding tears of blood for the dream of owning a home," and noted, "In response, Lee merely offered a 'two-minute shorts apology,' further stoking public anger."
Earlier, on the 19th, the Vice Minister said on the YouTube channel "BuilknamTV," "If housing prices stabilize through government policy, you can buy then," placing the remark at the center of controversy. Criticism also followed that, while personally having secured an apartment worth tens of billions of won in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, by purchasing it with a jeonse deposit, Lee introduced a law banning gap investing.
As the controversy continued, the Vice Minister said on the 23rd, "As a senior public official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in charge of real estate policy, I sincerely apologize for hurting the public's feelings." However, the controversy grew as the apology was also broadcast live on YouTube, ended in two minutes without taking any questions.
Choi, the senior spokesperson, criticized, saying, "In a situation where immediate resignation would not be enough, trying to brush it off with a perfunctory apology is no different from mocking the people," adding, "It is an arrogant act that once again regarded the public as 'gabung-gae.'"
He added, "Contrary to the explanation that 'I bought it with a jeonse deposit because the house would not sell,' revelations of holding 2.9 billion won in deposits have sparked even allegations of lying."
Choi, the senior spokesperson, urged President Lee Jae-myung to dismiss the Vice Minister. Choi criticized, "If there is a genuine will to resolve the situation, rather than wrapping it up with a two-minute shorts apology, the Vice Minister should be dismissed immediately to show a responsible stance before the public," adding, "The presidential office, the main culprit behind policy failures, must face the current situation squarely."
Song Eon-seog, the People Power Party floor leader, also held a meeting on measures for the National Assembly audit that day and said, "Lee Sang-gyeong, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport first vice minister, 'drove a nail into the people's hearts' by saying, 'If housing prices stabilize, you can buy then,' and Lee Chan-jin, the Financial Supervisory Service governor, provoked public anger by saying he would gift an expensive apartment to a child," directly criticizing, "The Lee Jae-myung administration's real estate policy is the result of arrogance and irresponsibility that worsens the public's housing insecurity."