Han Byung-do accuses People Power Party of blocking housing supply bills, urges cooperation at Aug. 13 plenary

Han Byung-do, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on Friday accused the People Power Party of blocking housing supply legislation while publicly championing supply-side solutions, and called on the party to cooperate in passing the relevant bills at the Aug. 13 plenary session.

Speaking at a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly, Han said the People Power Party should "stop paying lip service to supply and cooperate in passing the housing supply bills being pushed by the government and the Democratic Party."

Han said housing construction starts fell sharply under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and that delays in building third-generation new towns had set back housing supply. He also criticized Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, saying Oh "was the one who stirred up market confusion by lifting and then reimposing land transaction permit zone restrictions in February, and is now turning around to attack the government."

Turning to the People Power Party's attacks on the government's tax reform plan, Han said "not a single step forward can be taken toward housing stability for ordinary people and real estate normalization through mindless criticism that offers no alternatives."

He argued that the People Power Party "claims it will stabilize home prices through supply, yet is the very party blocking the government's follow-up supply legislation in the National Assembly." Bills including the Housing Act, the Urban Improvement Act and the Public Housing Special Act had cleared the Land and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee but were being held up from a floor vote due to People Power Party opposition, he added.

Han urged the party to "fulfill its own responsibilities before criticizing the government's real estate policy," and said the Democratic Party would move immediately to pass the bills. "If the People Power Party is sincere about housing supply, please cooperate in holding the Aug. 13 plenary session and passing the relevant legislation," he said.