President Lee: “If you get caught, you’ll be ruined” ... Orders probe into holdout tactics at redevelopment sites

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung ordered officials to look into cases of obstruction of eviction enforcement at redevelopment sites and other such incidents involving illegal real estate activity on the 10th, saying, “We need to respond firmly so that the belief that ‘if you get caught, you’ll be ruined’ can take hold.”
At the 48th Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House that day, President Lee cited redevelopment sites as an example, saying, “There are groups that profit by breaking this law.” Referring to eviction enforcement, he said, “They use physical force to hold out for years, causing enormous damage, and engage in what is commonly called ‘holdout’ tactics (there are cases like that). But in the end, when you look at it later, it turns out that it actually works.”
President Lee asked rhetorically whether people who saw such situations for themselves would not think, “So if you’re strong, you can just hold out. What does the law matter? The law, too, is on the side of the powerful, those who have everything.”
Referring to cases in which people are mobilized to physically block the enforcement of the law, he said, “Isn’t that obstruction of special official duties? Why is that being left unchecked?” He then mentioned the Korea National Police Service (KNPS), the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), and the Ministry of Justice, and instructed officials, “Investigate the actual extent of acts that reject the legitimate rule of law and report back.” He told the prime minister to compile cases identified by the relevant agencies and report back within 1–2 weeks.
President Lee said, “We must establish a thorough, airtight response system so that these crimes cannot gain a foothold in our society at all,” and urged the relevant authorities to “use every means at their disposal to swiftly draw up and implement the necessary comprehensive measures.”
[email protected] Seong Seok-woo Reporter