People Power Party Criticizes Lee Over Ship Attack Response

People Power Party officials criticized the Lee Jae-myung administration on May 11 for its lack of commitment to protecting citizens' safety and property in light of the recent attack on the HMM Namuho vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

During a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Jang Dong-hyuk, the party leader, stated, "Lee Jae-myung brought up fake news to attack Israel, yet remains silent after our ship was hit." He emphasized that Iran, which should have been included in the government's initial investigation report on the attack, was notably absent. Jang pointed out that while former President Donald Trump acknowledged the attack, the South Korean government insisted the likelihood of an attack was low. Now that the attack has been confirmed, he criticized the government for refusing to speculate on the assailants.

Jang also noted that Iranian state television had reported that a South Korean vessel was targeted. He remarked, "The perpetrator has confessed, yet the victim is being denied." He accused the current administration of having financially supported Iran, suggesting that the funds may have been used to launch the drone that attacked the Namuho.

He expressed concern for the safety of the 160 crew members aboard the Namuho, stating, "In this critical situation, the president is posting about real estate on social media at midnight." He questioned, "What exactly is Lee Jae-myung doing?"

Regarding the reintroduction of heavy taxation on multiple homeowners, Jang criticized the administration's handling of the real estate crisis, saying, "With no available jeonse (long-term lease) options and soaring monthly rent prices, the president finds one line about allowing gap investment in a sea of articles and posts it on social media at night. There are no answers to the hundreds of articles pointing out the lack of available properties, the disappearance of jeonse, and the skyrocketing rent prices."

He added, "The same goes for Jeong Won-o, the candidate for Seoul mayor. No matter how many times I ask about the abolition of heavy taxation, the increase in property taxes, or the elimination of long-term holding tax exemptions, they cannot provide an answer."

Jang warned that if Lee and Jeong were to form a coalition, it would mark the peak of the real estate crisis in Seoul, declaring, "This local election is about ending Lee Jae-myung's real estate tyranny in the region."

Song Eon-seok, the party's floor leader, commented on the Namuho attack, stating, "The government's response to this critical security issue has been too slow and dismissive." He accused the government and ruling party of focusing more on clearing Lee's name through special investigations than on protecting citizens.

Regarding the government's real estate policies, Song noted that aside from a few ultra-luxury apartments in Gangnam, the balloon effect is spreading throughout most of Seoul and surrounding areas like Seongnam, Gwangmyeong, Hanam, and Gwacheon. He pointed out that the supply of jeonse has drastically decreased, while the proportion of monthly rent has reached an all-time high. He warned that if additional property tax increases are pushed through, ordinary citizens will fall into a real estate hell.

He added, "Homebuyers without properties are completely blocked from purchasing homes due to loan regulations, and tenants are being pushed into a crisis of jeonse shortages and soaring monthly rents. Those who own homes face tax burdens, while those without homes must endure the collapse of jeonse and the burden of rising monthly rents."