Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, stated on September 27 that public sentiment during Chuseok is "explosive," urging a shift in policies regarding agriculture and real estate. The opposition, including the People Power Party, continued to criticize President Lee Jae-myung, claiming he is overly cautious of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in light of a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
During a press conference at the National Assembly, Jang remarked, "The public's anger is on the verge of exploding. Many people watching the news of President Lee's trip to the U.S. wished he wouldn't return."
He specifically highlighted the outrage among farmers, questioning, "Is this administration's agricultural policy really about ruining farmers' lives to catch a handful of speculators?" He called for an immediate halt to land surveys and urged the government to find ways to increase farmers' incomes and support young agricultural workers.
Jang also demanded a change in the government's real estate policies, stating, "Jeonse has disappeared, and monthly rents have skyrocketed, forcing ordinary citizens to move to cheaper areas. Homeowners are living in fear of tax hikes. Seniors who have saved their whole lives to buy a home are now facing the prospect of having to move because they can't afford the taxes."
He added, "Self-employed individuals are struggling to make ends meet, and young people are left without jobs, becoming 'full-time children.' With high inflation and interest rates, ordinary people's wallets are thinning, while the government is focused on seizing land and homes, contemplating how to exploit the people's wealth. How is this different from the exploitation by Japanese imperialists who took away livestock and cooking pots?"
Jang also raised concerns about the landmine explosion in the DMZ and the return of North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine. He asserted, "President Lee has abandoned South Korea's security," warning that if he continues to prioritize 'Kim Jong-un's feelings,' the public will demand his resignation. He urged, "If you have no intention of standing up to Kim Jong-un to protect the country and its people, I hope you will step down from the presidency now."
The People Power Party suspects that the recent landmine explosion was caused by a North Korean landmine planted after crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). They are concerned that the delay in military investigations may be an attempt to allow evidence to disappear.
Jang criticized the president, saying, "He never mentions 'thorough fact-finding' when it is truly needed. If President Lee intentionally delayed the investigation, it would be a clear act of treason and a crime against the state, warranting impeachment and immediate trial."
On the same day, other members of the People Power Party also voiced their criticism regarding the government's response to the DMZ landmine explosion and the return of North Korean soldiers. Lawmaker Na Kyung-won stated on her Facebook that the Lee Jae-myung administration has gone beyond merely being cautious of North Korea to actively benefiting it, calling for a joint parliamentary hearing on the recent incidents involving North Korean prisoners and the DMZ landmine explosion.
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon also criticized the administration, stating, "If they refuse to allow the UN Command to investigate, deliberately delaying and allowing evidence to be washed away by the anticipated heavy rain, and then claim 'it's unclear whether it's a North Korean landmine,' the Lee Jae-myung administration will collapse. It must collapse."
During a press conference at the National Assembly, Jang remarked, "The public's anger is on the verge of exploding. Many people watching the news of President Lee's trip to the U.S. wished he wouldn't return."
He specifically highlighted the outrage among farmers, questioning, "Is this administration's agricultural policy really about ruining farmers' lives to catch a handful of speculators?" He called for an immediate halt to land surveys and urged the government to find ways to increase farmers' incomes and support young agricultural workers.
Jang also demanded a change in the government's real estate policies, stating, "Jeonse has disappeared, and monthly rents have skyrocketed, forcing ordinary citizens to move to cheaper areas. Homeowners are living in fear of tax hikes. Seniors who have saved their whole lives to buy a home are now facing the prospect of having to move because they can't afford the taxes."
He added, "Self-employed individuals are struggling to make ends meet, and young people are left without jobs, becoming 'full-time children.' With high inflation and interest rates, ordinary people's wallets are thinning, while the government is focused on seizing land and homes, contemplating how to exploit the people's wealth. How is this different from the exploitation by Japanese imperialists who took away livestock and cooking pots?"
Jang also raised concerns about the landmine explosion in the DMZ and the return of North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine. He asserted, "President Lee has abandoned South Korea's security," warning that if he continues to prioritize 'Kim Jong-un's feelings,' the public will demand his resignation. He urged, "If you have no intention of standing up to Kim Jong-un to protect the country and its people, I hope you will step down from the presidency now."
The People Power Party suspects that the recent landmine explosion was caused by a North Korean landmine planted after crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). They are concerned that the delay in military investigations may be an attempt to allow evidence to disappear.
Jang criticized the president, saying, "He never mentions 'thorough fact-finding' when it is truly needed. If President Lee intentionally delayed the investigation, it would be a clear act of treason and a crime against the state, warranting impeachment and immediate trial."
On the same day, other members of the People Power Party also voiced their criticism regarding the government's response to the DMZ landmine explosion and the return of North Korean soldiers. Lawmaker Na Kyung-won stated on her Facebook that the Lee Jae-myung administration has gone beyond merely being cautious of North Korea to actively benefiting it, calling for a joint parliamentary hearing on the recent incidents involving North Korean prisoners and the DMZ landmine explosion.
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon also criticized the administration, stating, "If they refuse to allow the UN Command to investigate, deliberately delaying and allowing evidence to be washed away by the anticipated heavy rain, and then claim 'it's unclear whether it's a North Korean landmine,' the Lee Jae-myung administration will collapse. It must collapse."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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