President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need to reform regulations to penalize vote buying in private economic group elections. Addressing ongoing concerns regarding the government's comprehensive farmland investigation, he stated that the aim is to detect real estate speculation while urging authorities to avoid uniform enforcement that disregards the realities faced by elderly farmers.
During a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House, President Lee pointed out the issue of monetary exchanges in the election process for economic group leaders, noting, "While there are penalties for vote buying in agricultural cooperative elections, there is no way to penalize such practices in general elections."
He stressed that the elections for economic group leaders extend beyond internal matters, potentially influencing various projects and interests, and called for a review of related regulations to prevent the tolerance of vote buying.
Additionally, President Lee dedicated significant time during the Cabinet meeting to address the controversy surrounding the farmland investigation.
He explained, "The farmland investigation aims to catch real estate speculation where individuals report their intent to farm, wait for land prices to rise, and then misuse the land for other purposes. It is not intended to crack down on elderly farmers who may have entrusted their land to others due to their age and inability to farm themselves."
He urged relevant departments to accurately communicate the purpose of the farmland investigation to the public while ensuring that individual circumstances are thoroughly considered during the investigation and disposal processes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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