Representative Lee Kang-il Proposes Pro-Japanese Collaborator Property Confiscation Act

He stated that a strong desire for a new president and a keen awareness of the need for social reform were the direct motivations for his entry into politics. He had connections with aides to then-Mayor Lee Jae-myung during his time as Seongnam Mayor and felt a strong urge for reform after the presidential election defeat.

He said that he decided to run for National Assembly to directly lead reforms from within politics, having previously advocated for them from outside the political sphere.

He mentioned that untangling historical complexities is as important as forward-looking tasks, explaining that the will to liquidate flawed history amidst ideological conflicts was the background for proposing the bill.

The Pro-Japanese Collaborator Property Confiscation Act took about six months to prepare and propose. Representative Lee Kang-il admitted that there was no possibility of the bill passing under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration at the time.

Nevertheless, he stated that he began preparing the bill with a historical sense of mission and responsibility, feeling that “this must be done,” and continued legislative activities in preparation for a change in government.

Representative Lee Kang-il expressed strong regret over the policy actions of former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Jung-ae during the parliamentary audit. He voiced frustration that a descendant of independence activists was regressing veterans' policies.

He added that he was even more infuriated when the minister evaded the questions during the inquiry.

The Pro-Japanese Collaborator Property Confiscation Act, proposed by Representative Lee Kang-il in December 2024, gained momentum when President Lee Jae-myung strongly addressed the issue of pro-Japanese collaborator property confiscation in his Liberation Day speech on August 15, 2025.

He analyzed that President Lee Jae-myung's strong will played a decisive role in the bill's passage. As a result, the bill proceeded swiftly.

Currently, after going through the preparatory working committee, an investigation committee for the survey of pro-Japanese collaborator property is scheduled to officially operate this December.

Through this process, the work of liquidating historical remnants will begin in earnest, Representative Lee added.