The Country Is Swarming with Thieves

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo stated that Supreme Court nominee Kim Sung-soo has been living in a 43-pyeong apartment in Gangnam for 15 years, paying only 350 million won in jeonse (long-term lease deposit), raising suspicions of gift tax evasion. The current market value of this apartment is 1.95 billion won, and it is alleged that gift tax on the difference in market value has not been paid. Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo reported that nominee Kim himself admitted to this tax evasion and expressed his intention to pay it after the confirmation hearing.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo revealed that nominee Kim Sung-soo explained the gift tax evasion allegations by stating he lived with his brother-in-law because his brother-in-law was unmarried. However, Joo explained that other media investigations confirmed the brother-in-law lives in a separate officetel. Lawmaker Joo categorized this as a false explanation by nominee Kim Sung-soo.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo raised suspicions that Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is intervening in Supreme Court justice nominations to influence his own trial. Joo pointed out that Lee's preference for Supreme Court justice candidates from Jeolla-do and exclusion of candidates from Gyeongsang-do is problematic in terms of regional balance and diversity in the Supreme Court's composition. He also mentioned the possibility of an intentional arrangement to nominate Judge Kim Min-ki, suggesting that Lee might be selecting individuals who would dismiss his trial.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo stated that nominee Yong Hye-in bought a house in Ansan-si and sold it 11 months later to a Chinese national, earning a 20 million won profit. Joo pointed out that Yong's assets increased by over 400 million won in just six years as a National Assembly member, criticizing this as a 'capitalistic financial strategy' that contradicts her claims of falling real estate prices.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo raised suspicions about the current government's personnel verification system being inadequate, criticizing that the verification performed is inferior to what he could find personally. He questioned whether critical issues with candidates are repeatedly missed or intentionally covered up. Joo claimed that the personnel verification system is influenced by a culture of protecting allies and targeting individuals who fall out of favor with those in power, which consequently lowers the verification morale of working-level officials. He pointed out that these recurring problems lead to continuous controversies around candidates and a failure of pre-verification.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo exposed the irregular structure of labor cost expenditure using government subsidies. He pointed out that the method by which politicians deposit donations they receive as special party dues, and then the party pays that money to their husband as a salary, is problematic. He criticized that through this structure, taxes are flowing to the politician, their husband, and other associates, exploiting loopholes in the political accounting system.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo pointed out that despite receiving 1.1 billion won in government subsidies annually, the Basic Income Party spent only 2.87 million won on policy activities related to women and youth. He criticized that an examination of the Basic Income Party's past expenditures shows most of the budget was consumed by organizational activities and labor costs, claiming this as evidence of neglecting policy activities.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo raised suspicions of police concealing missing persons cases, criticizing it as a shocking incident that demonstrates how corrupt power can become when concentrated in the police force. He claimed that the police's desire for promotion led to systemic corruption and the false closure of missing persons cases. Joo emphasized that rather than establishing a new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the prosecutor's supplementary investigation rights should be restored to ensure checks and balances on police investigations.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo pointed out that the police's initial conclusion of suicide in the missing persons case lacked sufficient basis, and they later reversed their stance to an unknown cause of death. He claimed that the Deputy Commissioner General of the National Police Agency and the Commissioner of the Jeju Provincial Police Agency tried to push the case as a suicide because their own promotions and positions were at stake. Joo criticized such behavior for raising suspicions of investigative incompetence and case cover-up.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo criticized Representative Yoon Sang-hyun's taking on the role of chairperson of the special committee to prove there was no election fraud as a misguided sense of public duty. He argued that it is inappropriate for a special investigative committee, which should support special prosecutor investigations, to instead hold a debate asserting that there was no election fraud.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo revealed that the special prosecutor, even before forming an investigation team, sent an official letter to the National Election Commission requesting that the ballot boxes inside the Olympic Park Handball Stadium not be touched. He explained that the letter was sent to emphasize that everything inside the ballot boxes is evidence, and touching them could constitute destruction of evidence. This shows the special prosecutor took precautions to preserve evidence even before starting the investigation.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo definitively stated that Kim Yong-bum's resignation as Chief of Staff for Policy was 100% a dismissal. He refuted media reports claiming the Blue House tried to dissuade him, arguing that it is common practice to announce changes in economic leadership simultaneously. Joo criticized that Kim's resignation is being packaged as a voluntary resignation to prevent it from appearing as an admission of economic policy failure. He mentioned that 52 trillion won in public losses occurred in relation to leverage ETFs.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo stated that he received a tip-off from within the Financial Services Commission that the head of the Asset Management Division, the person in charge of leverage ETFs, is soon to depart overseas. He views this as a form of attempted evidence destruction and questioned why the Financial Services Commission would spirit away the division head overseas. Joo warned of responsibility at the Financial Services Commission level and demanded a clear explanation.

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo explained that Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han is from the 'Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (HANBYUN)' and served as a team leader for upholding the rule of law with a liberal-conservative leaning. He emphasized Lee's background from HANBYUN, contrasted with MINBYUN (Lawyers for a Democratic Society), and expressed expectation for Lee to demonstrate steadfastness in the investigation regardless of Lee Jae-myung's selection background. This statement reflects expectations for the special prosecutor's independent investigative will.