Moon vows to maintain anti-speculation real estate policy, speed up vaccinations

May 11, 2021, 08:31 am

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President Moon Jae-in delivers a special address at the Chunchugwan press room of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on May 10, 2021./ Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporter Lee Jang-won

President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed his willingness to maintain his housing supply policy aimed at curbing real estate speculation, protecting those in actual need of a home, and expanding housing supply in a special address marking the fourth anniversary of his inauguration on Monday. On overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, the president promised to achieve herd immunity earlier than the previously targeted November. Moon vowed to make full efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula while urging a positive response from North Korea.

The president looked back over the past four years and explained his policy goals and tasks for his final year as president during his special address at Cheong Wa Dae.

Regarding the government’s real estate policy, Moon said, “The most regrettable policy failure in the past four years was the real estate problem.” He said his party received a “severe punishment” in recent local by-elections.

However, he dismissed the possibility of changing his real estate policy, saying, “The real estate policy of banning real estate speculation, protecting those in actual need of a home, and stabilizing the real estate market by expanding home supply cannot be changed.”

Regarding the administration’s COVID-19 vaccination program, Moon said the government has revised up its target of vaccinating 12 million people by the end of June, to more than 13 million, and will complete giving at least a first dose to everyone in the eligible population by the end of September. “We are picking up speed with vaccination, nearing herd immunity,” he said. “An end to the war against COVID-19 is in sight,” he added.

On a call for granting a special presidential pardon to two former imprisoned presidents – Lee Myung-back and Park Geun-hye – as well as Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong, Moon said he would make a decision after listening enough to public opinions.

Regarding establishing peace process on the Peninsula, Moon reaffirmed his strong willingness, saying his final year will be the last opportunity to establish lasting peace on the Peninsula. He also said he will seek ways to resume dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington as well as between the two Koreas during his upcoming summit with U.S. President Biden scheduled for May. He said he will not be hasty or impatient during his final year, but will do all he can when there’s an opportunity to develop the peace process. Moon also hoped for a positive response from North Korea.

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