Lee Myung-bak Admits Phony Address Registration
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Leading presidential contender Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party (GNP) Saturday apologized for his deceptive residencies.
He denied, however, that his actions were aimed at real estate speculation, claiming that five residencies were for his children's school enrollment.
``I feel sorry for causing concerns among the public due to the issue,'' said Lee, a former Seoul mayor. ``But the residencies have nothing to do with land speculation.''
As Lee, a former CEO of Hyundai Construction and Engineering, admitted his wrongdoing, his party rival Rep. Park Geun-hye and anti-GNP parties are assailing the leading presidential aspirant.
``Since he violated the law for his children, as a parent I can understand his illegal conduct,'' said GNP Rep. Kim Jae-won, a spokesman for Park. ``His admission is laudable but I am worried that he frequently violated laws on election and resident registration as a presidential contender.''
Earlier this year, he was accused of infringement of the National Election Law and perjuring his former aide when he stood for an Assembly election in 1995.
The pro-government Uri Party also denounced Lee's excuse of his fake enrollment to prestigious schools.
``Students can enter those famous private schools regardless of address, so his claim is clearly to deceive people,'' Uri Vice Spokeswoman Yoo Eun-hea said in a statement.
She added that he insisted the deceptive address registration is nothing wrong because they were for education, not land speculation, but that it is strange logic.
Uri deserters' group and the minor opposition Democratic Party criticized Lee, urging him to give up challenging the Dec. 19 presidential election.
Last week, Uri Rep. Kim Hyuk-kyu raised suspicion that Lee's wife violated laws by camouflaging 15 residencies in Gangnam, an area where opulent houses and prestigious schools are located.
Lee's presidential camp had denied the suspicion, claiming that it is a conspiracy to take him down but they soon admitted the wrongdoing.
According to his camp, Lee changed domicile 24 times since 1969 but only 21 were substantial changes because three were attributable to the government's official modification.
Of the 21 changes, Lee registered new addresses in 1977 and 1979 for her first and second daughters' enrollment in elementary schools, respectively, the camp officials said.
Lee changed his address in 1981, 1984 and 1990 due to educational problems of his third daughter and youngest son, they said.
The other address changes were to stand for National Assembly elections, to purchase his own house and to move into an official residence of Hyundai, the officials added.
Since last October, Lee has topped all surveys, enjoying about 40 percent support.