President Lee Jae-myung has defended the South Korean government’s decision to keep the Comprehensive Real Estate Tax basic deduction for non-resident single-home owners at 1.2 billion won and the annual holding-tax increase ceiling at 150%, rejecting hardline progressive criticism that the move is a retreat from reform. In a Sept. 2 post on X, Lee questioned whether changing policy is unjust and rigidity is always right, saying critics ignore tougher steps on high-priced non-resident homes, multiple-home owners, and ultra-high-priced properties, including reduced capital gains tax exemptions. The Cabinet on Sept. 1 retained the 1.2 billion won deduction instead of cutting it to 900 million won and left the increase limit at 150% rather than 200%, reversing key parts of the Aug. 3 package after public and ruling-party pushback while still raising the owner-occupant deduction to 1.4 billion won. Lee urged critics to weigh the full policy mix and falling home prices in areas such as Gangnam, and called for politics grounded in national interest rather than unconditional attacks.