Rep. Hong Jun-pyo, a representative of the People’s Power, said, “There is absolutely no room for President Lee to get involved in the controversy over the violation of the Farmland Law by Lee Jun-seok’s father.”
Rep. Hong wrote on Facebook on the 4th, “I didn’t talk about Rep. Yoon’s father’s land speculation allegation because the issue was whether or not Rep. Yoon was involved, but this happened when President Lee was 18 years old while studying abroad.” Rep. Yoon announced his resignation on the 25th of last month due to suspicions of his father’s violation of the Farmland Act.
Rep. Hong said, “The Democratic Party, which attacks President Lee over that, is very wrong. Can you say no?” he asked.
He continued, “I have never criticized the Democratic politicians when there was a controversy about his father’s pro-Japanese behavior. That’s called a sit-in system. Stop it,” he emphasized. Then, he pointed out, “It is no different than blaming the specks in the eyes of others because you can’t see the beam in your own eyes.” Earlier, the father of Lee, who owned farmland in Jeju Island for 17 years, did not farm directly. Allegations of violations of the Agricultural Land Act were raised. CEO Lee’s father bought a 2023 square meter field in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do in January 2004 and has owned it to this day, but SBS reported on the 3rd that he had never farmed directly or commissioned farming. Except in some exceptional cases, farmland, in principle, can only be purchased by farmers. Lee’s father said, “I bought the farmland for 160 million won on the recommendation of a high school classmate, and I’ve been holding it for the purpose of building a country house after retirement. However, it was rejected because of the condition of the field that had been neglected for a long time, and after that, I did not pay attention.”
CEO Lee said, “I was studying in the United States before I was 18 when I bought farmland. On behalf of the family, I am sorry.”
In response, the Democratic Party criticized, “This issue is not light enough to apologize for not knowing and move on.” “I hope that President Lee’s special involvement in lawmakers’ violations of the Farmland Act was not a communal heart.”
Jang Yeon-je, reporter for Donga.com jeje@donga.com
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