From left, clockwise: former Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin, former People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook, Reform New Party floor leader Cheon Ha-ram, and Kim Kyu-wan, former head of the editorial board at CBS. Provided by TV Chosun

On the night of the 31st, the hard-hitting TV Chosun talk show ‘Gangjeokdeul’ takes a deep dive into the Lee Jae Myung administration’s governance and the power struggles in politics.

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin, former People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook, Reform New Party floor leader Cheon Ha-ram, and former CBS editorial director Kim Kyu-wan appear for an unvarnished debate.

Cheon, the floor leader, argued, “It is hard to avoid the assessment that progressive administrations added fuel to the real estate market,” adding, “It is fine for the Lee Jae Myung administration to be confident, but that confidence is turning into hubris,” and criticizing, “With very arrogant and ineffective policies, they are now filming ‘Moon Jae-in Season 2.’”

By contrast, former lawmaker Park Yong-jin defended the government’s response and raised the issue of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s responsibility. Park said, “The opposition views it with suspicion and a critical eye, but I believe the government is showing the will to increase supply and is doing everything it can,” evaluating that “it is doing its best.”

He continued, “The real estate market went haywire over the land-transaction permit system because, a year ago, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon poured fuel on real estate,” and asked, “He said he had reviewed funds related to relocation expenseswhat on earth has he done over the past three to four months?” He asserted, “Responsibility for Seoul home prices going up in flames lies with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul mayor.” Cheon countered, “Democrats say, ‘What was Mayor Oh Se-hoon doing?,’ but now is the time for the Lee Jae Myung administration to help redevelopment and reconstruction proceed quickly,” adding, “You should criticize while also presenting solutions.”

He also said, “It is contradictory to have made reconstruction and redevelopment difficult themselves and then blame only Mayor Oh Se-hoon,” emphasizing, “If supply measures are important, you must first open up what the private sector can do so that high-quality supply is possible.” He added, “Suppressing the market does not subdue it easily,” and, “As with the stated plan to appeal in the lawsuit to void the 10·15 measures, if you are going to regulate citizens’ property rights, you must adhere as strictly as possible to legal requirements.”

Cheon criticized, “It may look like the same regulations are applied to Gangnam and Gangbuk, but in reality you are only letting the cash-rich ride the elevator while piling pain onto Gangbuk.”

Former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook said, “The Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in administrations were a total disaster on real estate,” adding, “As home prices more than doubled, people who hoped to buy a home by saving their wages shed tears of blood.” She continued, “People involved in policy in the Lee Jae Myung administration are sending mixed signals, saying things like ‘the president overdid it,’” and, “We are seeing bizarre messages more than four times a day.”

She strongly criticized, “They have blocked loans and are being obstinate toward the public,” and, “Even though every expert says to start by unwinding the 10·15 measures, the president is digging in, and I can’t sleep at night. This is not a normal state.”

The Democratic Party’s internal power struggle that surfaced at former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan’s memorial altar and the growing influence of Kim Eo-jun also came under scrutiny. The panel, referring to Kim Eo-jun’s refusal of Prime Minister Kim Min-seok’s request, voiced concern, saying, “He seems to think of himself as a king.”

Regarding the expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon, Yoon lamented that “the People Power Party pressed the self-destruct button,” and former editor Kim Kyu-wan mentioned that lawmaker Shin Dong-wook is being discussed as a contender for the next party leadership.

On the trial of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison on allegations of receiving money and valuables from the Unification Church, a chorus of criticism called it a “slap on the wrist.” On the nomination-donation allegations, Yoon stressed the need for “a root-and-branch special counsel that spares neither the ruling nor the opposition parties.”