Former lawmaker posts Facebook criticism of Office for Government Policy Coordination chief Im Ki-geun

Im Ki-geun, head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, delivers opening remarks and a work report at a national audit session of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Im Ki-geun, head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, delivers opening remarks and a work report at a national audit session of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yu Seung-min has sharply criticized Im Ki-geun, head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, after Im suggested that solving the Greater Seoul housing crisis requires every citizen to mount an "all-court press" — a basketball term for full-court defensive pressure. "What did the people do wrong to cause this real estate crisis?" Yu said.

At a national audit session of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Im made the remark in response to an opposition lawmaker who pressed the government over its failure to rein in housing prices. Yu posted on his personal Facebook page the same day, writing: "The Korea Land and Housing Corporation president says home prices will plunge, and now the Office for Government Policy Coordination chief is blaming the public."

Yu went on to say that citizens had long been mounting their own "all-court press." "These are people who have tightened their belts and struggled their whole lives just to own a home — to find even a slightly cheaper place to live," he wrote.

He then urged President Lee Jae Myung to act. "I urge President Lee to immediately remove the civil servants who insult the public with this kind of nonsense," he said.

Im's remarks came in response to People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-seop, who had questioned the effectiveness of the government's housing supply measures for the Greater Seoul area.

Im said resolving the issue would require broad-based effort. "Supply must be handled well, demand must be managed properly, and illegal activity must be monitored," he said. He added that both the public and private sectors, central and local governments, the National Assembly and individual citizens all needed to do their part. "I agree that this problem can only be solved if every single citizen mounts an all-court press," he said.

Kim pushed back sharply, calling the remarks "a way of spreading responsibility onto the public." "The president said taming real estate would be easier than clearing up illegal riverside campsites — so why does it now take mobilizing every citizen?" Kim said. He added: "If the president spoke with such confidence, he should take responsibility for it himself. Why drag the public into this? What have the people done wrong?"

The prime minister's office said Im's comments were intended to convey that "an all-out response is needed on the real estate issue, and that the government will gather public opinion through communication with various stakeholders and reflect it in policy."

Lee Seong-hun, president of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation, responds to lawmakers' questions about the corporation's rising debt at a national audit session of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on Monday. [Yonhap]
Lee Seong-hun, president of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation, responds to lawmakers' questions about the corporation's rising debt at a national audit session of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on Monday. [Yonhap]

Meanwhile, at a national audit session of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on Monday, Korea Land and Housing Corporation President Lee Seong-hun said buyers who hold off on purchasing a home now will not lose out. "There is a fairly high likelihood that home prices will fall sharply going forward," he said.

Lee said the corporation was actively working to boost housing supply. "Interest rates are also rising, so there is a good chance prices will not keep climbing and will come down significantly," he said.

Yu subsequently posted on Facebook, saying the Korea Land and Housing Corporation president should focus on the housing supply work his agency was actually tasked with. "It is not the LH president's place to casually weigh in on whether home prices will rise or fall," Yu said. "Opening his mouth like that shows he does not know his own role."


jshan@heraldcorp.com