Police Investigation Incompetence Controversy After Abolition of Prosecutors' Investigative Powers… Lee Jae-myung's Approval Rating Continues to Decline

It was revealed that a police corporal arbitrarily deleted data of a missing person during the investigation of the Jeju missing person case. Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung pointed out that this incident exposes structural problems in the missing persons investigation system. The problem was mentioned that if data deletion occurs within the investigation system, one person can conceal everything once that data is deleted from the system.

The lack of cross-checking by the missing persons investigation team leader and the head of the criminal division further exacerbates these systemic vulnerabilities. The fact that data deletion occurred without approval from superiors and that internal oversight functions did not work properly is subject to criticism. This increases the possibility of solo actions and cover-ups, raising questions about the fairness and reliability of the investigation.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung argued that the abolition of prosecutors' direct investigative powers could lead to the loss of oversight functions over police investigative capabilities. Direct investigations by prosecutors accounted for only about 2% of all cases, but they played a supplementary and oversight role for the remaining 98% of police investigations. With the abolition of prosecutors' investigative powers, concerns about the fairness of police investigations are growing as this oversight function disappears.

Spokesperson Kim criticized Lee Jae-myung for eliminating prosecutors to cover up his own crimes, stating that this could deepen political bias in investigations. The possibility of inadequate investigations into powerful figures or investigations proceeding in a direction favorable to specific political forces has been raised. It is pointed out that without the prosecutors' check-and-balance function, the police could become vulnerable to political influence.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung argued that the police organization's rank retirement system could undermine its political independence. Police officers face a situation where they must retire if they do not get promoted due to the rank retirement system. This leads to them watching their superiors, making it difficult to expect proper investigations into powerful figures, according to critics.

Spokesperson Kim pointed out that this rank retirement system could lead to a passive or biased attitude in investigations concerning the current administration or influential politicians. Concerns are also raised that it could result in harsh investigations against the opposition and lenient, biased investigations toward the ruling party. The necessity of institutional improvements to secure the political neutrality and independence of the police is emphasized.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung described the current Minister of Justice's decision to take sick leave and not attend the National Assembly as 'escaping a sinking ship,' emphasizing that it has become an era where everyone is fending for themselves. This behavior by the minister is interpreted as reflecting the current government's crisis.

Spokesperson Kim views the minister's sick leave and absence as not merely a health issue but a calculated evasive move with political motives. This suggests a deep distrust in the current government and a situation where individuals are seeking their own ways to survive.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung raised the possibility of Lee Jae-myung attempting to 'dismiss charges' as the background for the rumored candidacies of Rep. Park Kyun-taek and Rep. Lee Gun-tae for Minister of Justice. He expressed concern about whether the newly appointed Minister of Justice would take up this banner, as a dismissal of charges is what Lee Jae-myung desires.

Spokesperson Kim warned that if lawyers from the Daejang-dong case are appointed as Minister of Justice, attempts to dismiss charges related to Lee Jae-myung's trial could be made. This is a serious issue that could severely undermine the fairness of the judicial system, and he expressed strong skepticism about future appointments for the Minister of Justice.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung cited worsening public sentiment regarding real estate as a decisive factor influencing the decline in Lee Jae-myung's approval rating. He mentioned that cracks are appearing not only among the 20s-30s and 60s-70s age groups but also among the core supporters in their 40s-50s. This serves as an indicator that Lee's support base is shaking.

The instability of the real estate market, combined with dissatisfaction with the government's real estate policies, seems to have fueled a general sense of economic anxiety, contributing to the decline in approval ratings. Spokesperson Kim analyzed that these political setbacks are complexly intertwined, causing Lee Jae-myung's approval rating to continue its downward trend.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung criticized Lee Jae-myung's contradictory stance on real estate policy by pointing out that Lee profited from selling a 2.9 billion won apartment through joint spousal ownership, designating it as a business, and setting a 1.77 billion won mortgage. Lee's actions are seen as contradicting the real estate policies he has advocated.

Spokesperson Kim cited this example to criticize Lee Jae-myung for displaying a hypocritical attitude by not adhering to his own policies. He also mentioned the status of multiple homeowners within the Democratic Party, including the Prime Minister, arguing that they are showing a 'do as I say, not as I do' attitude.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung criticized the current government for not achieving concrete real estate supply results for a year and instead focusing on 'erasing the previous administration' to cover it up. He argued that the government is blaming the previous administration rather than genuinely solving problems, thereby concealing its own shortcomings.

Spokesperson Kim pointed out that the current government used a 'money move' strategy to divert real estate funds into stocks. He criticized that this policy exacerbated economic instability for citizens due to tax regulations and stock volatility.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung emphasized that Lee Jae-myung's approval rating is clearly declining, citing poll results. He mentioned that Gallup's survey showed a 10 percentage point drop in Seoul's approval rating from 42% to 32%, and the Korea Research survey also showed an overall decline to the 30% range.

These poll results objectively demonstrate that Lee Jae-myung's support base is weakening. The decline in Seoul, a key support region, can be interpreted as a precursor to a nationwide decline in approval ratings.

Spokesperson Kim Ki-heung raised doubts about the feasibility of the current government's 'supply at all costs' real estate policy, pointing out realistic problems. Especially in the Yongsan area, he mentioned that land contamination is severe, requiring essential purification and soil remediation work, which would take at least 8-9 years, even at the fastest. This implies that immediate supply expansion is difficult.

Spokesperson Kim emphasized the transportation convenience of GTX and the 3rd new towns, arguing that the government should not merely advocate for 'supply' but consider realistic constraints and timelines. He also countered the frame attempting to shift responsibility to Mayor Oh Se-hoon, stating that even the Seoul Metropolitan Government faces realistic challenges.