Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk unveiled a plan to resolve the real estate issue by supplying 120,000 high-quality public rental housing units on sites including Seoul’s Yongsan Park, Seocho-dong legal complex, Korea Military Academy, and Seoul Airport. Representative Cho also called for political reform centered on expanding multi-member electoral districts, stating, “The local autonomy that President Kim Dae-jung fought for with his life has been tainted by money” in response to allegations of nomination donations within the Democratic Party.
Representative Cho announced this during a New Year’s press conference on the 4th. He emphasized, “The total problem of South Korea is real estate. Solving real estate will resolve inequality, change the economic structure, and enhance growth potential.”
Cho proposed utilizing public land across Seoul, including Yongsan, Seocho, and Taereung, to supply 120,000 rental homes. He explained, “Even using just 20% of Yongsan Park’s total area could supply about 10,000 units,” and “Taereung Golf Course and the Korea Military Academy have enough land for approximately 30,000 units.” Additionally, he suggested relocating the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, Supreme Court, Seoul Regional Public Procurement Service, Board of Audit and Inspection, and Constitutional Court to provincial areas. Cho added, “The Seoul Airport site could accommodate around 60,000 units. Utilizing this site would allow the creation of the smartest residential complex and public infrastructure in South Korea.”
He also proposed establishing a Land and Housing Bank and a Housing Agency to expand public-led housing supply.
Regarding the ‘Democratic Party nomination donation scandal’ involving lawmakers Kim Byung-kee and Kang Sun-woo, Cho stated, “The Democratic Party should clean itself thoroughly without a speck of dust. This issue is not just the Democratic Party’s problem—it could burden the president’s governance.”
Cho urged, “This is the time to cut off the roots of ‘money-based nominations’ and ‘favoritism nominations’ through political reforms desired by the public. If there had been a system where diverse parties compete, outdated politics would not have taken root.”
He continued, “However, the Democratic Party, alongside the People Power Party, is trying to split multi-member districts to increase two-member districts. I will not stand by as even President Roh Moo-hyun’s political reforms are tarnished.”
When asked about the June 3 local election strategy, Cho said, “The first goal of the local elections is to expel far-right insurrection forces. In this regard, we will naturally cooperate with the Democratic Party.” He added, “In the Honam region, there is no problem with the Rebuilding Korea Party competing against the Democratic Party,” and “Yeongnam has long been dominated by the People Power Party, and we will create disruptions there as well.”
