President Lee Jae-myung Orders Nationwide Probe into Illegal 'Squatting' in Redevelopment Areas
At a Cabinet meeting at the Cheong Wa Dae presidential office on the 10th, President Lee Jae-myung ordered a nationwide investigation into illegal acts at redevelopment sites, including 'squatters' who physically block the enforcement of public authority, and asked for a report within one to two weeks. Squatting, or 'alpakgi' in Korean, refers to the practice of deliberately moving into a home just ahead of demolition in order to receive greater compensation. The president called for a report within one to two weeks on "acts of holding out for years through physical force against eviction proceedings (the process of asking existing residents to vacate their homes)," and pointed out, "If the public comes to believe that all it takes is strength to hold out, the law loses its meaning."
President Lee named the police, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the Ministry of Justice as agencies to be covered in the investigation, noting, "The police probably account for the largest share." He added, "The cases are scattered across various ministries and agencies, and I get the feeling they aren't being properly tracked."
The president viewed the cleanup and regulation of valley sites in the same light. "These clearly belong to the nation and to the people, so why is it that someone blocks off a road and you can't get through unless you pay a toll? This is what breeds distrust in the government," he said. He then set a firm deadline, ordering the prime minister to consolidate the findings and report back within one to two weeks.
On the 4th, President Lee visited the public redevelopment project site of the Jangwi District 10 area in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where he was told that the Sarangjeil Church had been excluded from the redevelopment zone because its forced eviction could not be carried out. "It was removed from the zone because the forced eviction couldn't be enforced, right? That makes no sense," he criticized. "There is no such thing as a world where breaking the law is acceptable as long as you hold out."
