Amid President Lee Jae-myung's commitment to eradicate land speculation through thorough investigations, allegations have emerged against Chung Jeong-ok, a senior aide in the Blue House, regarding her purchase of agricultural land classified as speculative. On June 6, an analysis conducted by Kim Eun-hye, a member of the National Assembly from the People's Power party, revealed that Chung purchased a portion of agricultural land in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, in November 2016 for 70 million KRW, with her children also acquiring nearby land. Critics have suggested that such transactions might be indicative of speculative motives, especially since both properties are situated close to areas that have since been designated for development.

Kim's investigation highlights that the land owned by Chung and her children has seen a dramatic change in status, with nearby regions being marked for future developments, raising concerns over potential favoritism and undermining the government's anti-speculation policies. The area where Chung’s land is located has been earmarked for various development projects, including a new transportation system due to commence in 2024, which raises red flags about the motivations behind her purchases. Critics are asserting that before branding citizens as speculators, the government must first ensure that high-ranking officials are not involved in similar cases of land speculation.

In response to these allegations, the Blue House spokesperson stated that civil servants are responsible for following legal frameworks and public service ethics, suggesting a willingness to review the circumstances. The situation underscores a growing tension within the government, where the integrity of officials is under scrutiny at a time when the administration is pushing hard against land speculation practices to maintain public trust and credibility in governance.