Ruling party demands 12 lawmakers quit over speculation allegations

Rep. Yun Ho-jung, center, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) demanded 12 of its lawmakers leave the party, Tuesday, a day after they or their family members were accused of alleged real estate speculation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC).

The move was in response to an earlier pledge to take strong action if any real estate speculation ― even allegations ― was uncovered involving its members, and followed a speculation scandal involving employees of the Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH).

“During an earlier party convention, we pledged the party would sternly deal with any speculation, and the Supreme Council members today held a discussion and decided to demand all 12 leave the party,” DPK spokesman Rep. Koh Yong-jin said.

He said the party decided not to wait until the results of an investigation came out, because the public anger over housing and land speculation issues is so huge, and the ruling party has been criticized for applying double standards on corruption issues.

Among the 12, the DPK will arbitrarily strip Reps. Youn Mee-hyang and Yang Yi Won-young of their membership as they hold proportional representation seats, and will lose them if they voluntarily leave the party.

On Monday, the ACRC announced the results of an investigation into real estate transactions made by 816 people ― 174 DPK lawmakers and their family members.

According to the ACRC, there were 16 alleged violations of relevant laws and ordinances by 12 people ― six lawmakers and the family members of six other lawmakers. Reports on those involved in the alleged improper trades were sent to the National Office of Investigation (NOI) under the National Police Agency, which will continue to investigate the allegations.

The ACRC's probe kicked off in late March at the request of the ruling party itself, after public anger rose over the speculation scandal in which employees of the state-run housing corporation bought farmland in several regions using confidential information prior to the government's announcement of new development projects there.

This scandal caused a large amount of negative public sentiment toward the ruling party, and is also seen as the biggest cause for the DPK's crushing defeat by its rival main opposition People Power Party (PPP) in the April 7 by-elections, in which the PPP took mayoral posts of the countries two major cities, Seoul and Busan.

Last week, DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil said, “If DPK lawmakers or their family members are involved in scandals connected to influence peddling for school admissions or employment of their family members, real estate speculation and sexual harassment, the party will immediately oust them and ban them from reentering.”

Meantime, as calls grow that a similar investigation should be conducted on the PPP, the opposition party said it would ask the Board of Audit and Inspection to carry out an investigation into real estate transactions made by PPP lawmakers and their family members. The PPP said the DPK is also urged to accept another investigation by the BAI, as it is an independent institution free from the influence of the ruling bloc.