Anchor: Amid mounting public anger over alleged real estate speculation by employees of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Corporation(LH) and other public servants, President Moon Jae-in called for thoroughly investigating and eradicating corruption in the public sector. He held a meeting with his cabinet ministers and law enforcement chiefs on this Monday, asking them to get to the bottom of the issue, without any political considerations.
Kim Bum-soo has more. 

Report: Presiding over an anti-corruption meeting on Monday, President Moon Jae-in told his cabinet members and law enforcement chiefs to disregard any political ramifications in the current corruption probe. 

[Sound bite: President Moon Jae-in (Korean-English translation)] 
"Please mobilize all administrative and investigative options. If you do so, the probe and its target can be widened. Do not stop and do not consider political advantages or disadvantages in getting to the bottom of it. If violations are found, illegal profits should all be returned and those involved must be sternly punished." 

In the wake of the initial disclosure by civic groups earlier this month, the government is investigating allegations that public officials and employees of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Corporation(LH) used insider information to buy properties in areas the government earmarked for massive development projects. 

Just nine days ahead of the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections next week, Moon acknowledged that his government failed to control soaring housing prices as the real estate corruption scandal triggered public outrage.

[Sound bite: President Moon Jae-in (Korean-English translation)] 
"In real estate policy, we are under a severe evaluation by the public. The criticism hurts very much. I especially ask that you exercise determination knowing that this is the final opportunity to turn around the public's assessment of our real estate policy." 

Earlier in the day, Moon fired his policy chief Kim Sang-jo, who is accused of drastically raising the lump-sum jeonse rental deposit on his personal property, just days before the government placed a five-percent cap on rental price hikes. 

Moon's former chief of staff, spokesman and a civil affairs secretary had all previously stepped down due to their real estate investments, which went against the administration's real estate policy directions.
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.