Ruling, opposition parties clash over upcoming real estate forum

A heated debate has erupted between South Korea's ruling Democratic Party and the opposition People Power Party over an upcoming presidential forum on real estate policy. The opposition has labeled the event a "predetermined" (답정너) forum, suggesting the outcomes are already decided. In response, the Democratic Party accused the opposition of fearing public collective intelligence.

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It's a 'predetermined' forum.

Democratic Party spokesperson Park Kyung-mi stated that the People Power Party's prediction of the forum's conclusion, even before it began, was "surprising prophecy." She argued that President Lee Jae-myung had publicly shared the forum's agenda and sought public opinion. The opposition's objection, she noted, stems from the inclusion of property taxes and assessment standards on the agenda, which they have characterized as a "tax bomb."

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Are you afraid of the public's collective intelligence?

Park asserted that blocking discussions on tax systems is tantamount to a "dictatorial monopoly" on public discourse regarding real estate policy. She emphasized that the Lee administration aims to move citizens from the "audience seats" to the "driver's seat" of policy-making. The Democratic Party is committed to preparing the forum to broaden the scope of South Korean democracy by incorporating public intelligence.

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Even before the real estate forum has begun, the People Power Party already knows the conclusion. What surprising prophecy!

Conversely, People Power Party spokesperson Park Seong-hoon criticized the forum as a "predetermined forum to justify a tax bomb." He accused the administration of attempting to secure legitimacy for tax increases by involving the public and experts, while downplaying responsibility for failed real estate policies. He urged President Lee to immediately halt the "real estate forum show" and first acknowledge responsibility for the destabilized housing market before discussing tax hikes.

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Blocking the discussion table from even including the tax system is nothing less than a dictatorial monopoly that seeks to fundamentally block the public's voice in real estate policy.