Cho Jung-hoon, chairman of the People Power Party's talent recruitment committee, proposed a public debate with President Lee Jae-myung over the president's decision to sell his Bundang apartment, warning that "selling the apartment will only deepen divisive politics."
"I welcome President Lee Jae-myung's decision to sell his Bundang apartment," Cho wrote on social media on the 27th. "However, I fear that starting today, the politics of division that targets the wealthy as enemies will intensify."
"Divide and conquer is politician Lee Jae-myung's go-to repertoire," Cho continued. "His approval ratings may rise the more he demonizes homeowners, multiple-property owners, and those who earn rental income. But a leader who treats citizens as enemies may win elections, yet cannot escape the cold judgment of history."
Cho argued that President Lee's real estate policies would fail in practice due to their ideological focus. "Regulations aimed at cracking down on multiple-property ownership concentrated all demand into 'one solid property' in Seoul, and laws meant to protect tenants drove out jeonse and pushed citizens into expensive monthly rentals," he criticized. "The desperate efforts to control housing prices have devastated regional real estate markets beyond recovery."
"Raising holding taxes without lowering transaction taxes is not market normalization—it is merely an outdated political tactic of punishing the wealthy," he added.
Cho proposed a public debate on real estate policy to President Lee, stating, "If the ruling and opposition parties can find a path together to normalize the real estate market, I will gladly step forward."