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Rep. Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party of Korea speaks during a radio interview on October 23, calling for Vice Land Minister Lee Sang-kyung’s resignation over his housing policy remarks. / Yonhap News

Ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jie-won on Thursday demanded the resignation of Lee Sang-kyung, first vice minister of land, infrastructure and transport, following controversial remarks he made about the government’s October 15 housing policy.

Lee sparked public outrage after saying, “If home prices stay flat, that’s when people should buy.”

During an interview with CBS Radio’s Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show, Park condemned the comment, calling Lee “a bad public official” and insisting he step down. “Vice Minister Lee should take responsibility and resign. Land Minister Kim Yun-deok should recommend his dismissal to Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, and the president must also act accordingly,” Park said.

“The real estate issue is what people are most sensitive about,” Park added. “Someone with a bureaucratic background who should understand the people’s hardships has instead provoked public anger.”

He continued, “There’s no point blaming former President Yoon Suk-yeol or Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon for housing price spikes — responsibility now lies with the current government. As vice minister, Lee should be explaining solutions to the public, not aggravating them.”

Park also referred to Democratic Party Supreme Council member Han Jun-ho’s apology the previous day for Lee’s comment during a party meeting. “Han’s apology means even the party acknowledges the remark was inappropriate,” Park said. “When an autumn leaf falls, we know the season has changed — the vice minister should realize that an apology from the party leadership means he must take responsibility.”

He further accused Lee of arrogance, saying, “He acts as if he can just ride it out. It’s shameless. He owns 2.9 billion won in assets and an apartment bought through gap investment — how do you think ordinary citizens feel?”

Park also voiced a moderate stance on property taxes, saying, “We need a holding tax, but for single-homeowners who actually live in their homes, some consideration is necessary.”