The controversy surrounding President Lee Jae-myung's method of selling his apartment in Bundang continues to escalate. Critics argue that the sale effectively circumvents the government's stringent loan regulations and real estate policies, leading to growing dissent even within progressive communities.
On July 21, a post titled "Real estate is ultimately psychological, and the problem is that the president has shattered that" appeared on a progressive online community.
The author of the post, identified as A, pointed out, "The core issue of this transaction is not its legality, but that the president has directly demonstrated a method to bypass regulations." He noted that the government's strategy has been to encourage price reductions through loan regulations and land transaction permits, but President Lee facilitated the sale by lending money to the buyer and establishing a mortgage, effectively sidestepping these regulations.
A emphasized, "While the public is told to limit loans and lower prices, the president has resorted to the very loophole transactions that have been used in the market." He added, "This moment inevitably shakes public trust in the government's real estate policies."
He further stated, "This transaction is not merely a private contract; it symbolically clashes with the direction of the government's real estate policies. If the president intended to send a strong message to the market, he should have sold at a price significantly lower than the market rate."
He argued that selling for about 100 million won less than the highest price for similar units cannot be considered a sacrifice, asserting that to demonstrate the sincerity of the policy, the president should have personally endured the same level of sacrifice expected from the public.
Moreover, he warned that now that the president has shown a willingness to exploit regulatory loopholes, the credibility of future real estate policies will be significantly weakened. He concluded, "While this may not be illegal, it could lead to substantial controversy regarding policy trust."
The post quickly spread to other progressive online communities, garnering support from netizens.
Users in the community expressed sentiments such as, "This is a clear betrayal," "The term '2찍 제조기' fits perfectly; it feels like a level of desperation to hand over power," and "I thought Lee Jae-myung was clever, but now it seems he’s just lucky to have come this far despite making foolish moves." Another user remarked, "If it doesn't sell, why not just hold onto it? What is he thinking?"
One user commented, "I thought there was no way the government would return to the opposition, but with the real estate, stock market, and economy in shambles, moderate supporters are turning away, and this loophole has dealt a decisive blow. Ultimately, the president is uniting the public in criticism, except for the mindless supporters."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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