[National Assembly Asset Disclosure] Despite a 45.2 Billion KRW Decrease, Kim Byung-kwan Remains Wealthiest... Park Deok-heum's Assets Increase by 3.6 Billion KRW

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Although assets decreased by 45.2 billion KRW over the past year, the 'undisputed number one' in National Assembly assets was held by Kim Byung-kwan of the Democratic Party of Korea. Park Deok-heum of the United Future Party recorded the largest increase in assets over the past year, with an increase of 3.6 billion KRW.

The National Assembly Public Officials Ethics Committee disclosed on the 26th the regular asset change reports of 323 public officials subject to disclosure affiliated with the National Assembly.

Among the total 290 members of the National Assembly, 213 members (73.4%) saw an increase in assets, while 77 members (26.6%) experienced a decrease.

Among them, 8 members (2.8%) had an increase in assets exceeding 1 billion KRW.

Park Deok-heum of the United Future Party, a veteran representative of Boeun, Okcheon, Yeongdong, and Goesan in Chungbuk, recorded the largest increase in assets, rising from 52.31467 billion KRW to 55.98502 billion KRW, an increase of 3.67034 billion KRW. Shim Jae-cheol, floor leader of the United Future Party, followed with an increase from 6.82052 billion KRW by 2.83673 billion KRW to 9.65725 billion KRW.

The member of the ruling party with the largest asset increase was Park Jung of the Democratic Party of Korea, whose assets rose from 28.78385 billion KRW to 31.41085 billion KRW, an increase of 2.627 billion KRW over one year. Geum Tae-seop of the Democratic Party followed with an increase from 5.68733 billion KRW to 8.03913 billion KRW, a rise of 2.35179 billion KRW.

Additionally, Song Hee-kyung of the United Future Party increased assets from 3.7 billion KRW to 5.3 billion KRW, an increase of 1.6 billion KRW. Shin Yong-hyun, who returned to the Minsheng Party from the United Future Party amid a 'self-expulsion' controversy, also increased assets from 5.8 billion KRW to 7.3 billion KRW, a 1.5 billion KRW increase. Oh Young-hoon of the Democratic Party increased assets from 400 million KRW to 1.7 billion KRW, a 1.3 billion KRW increase, and Lee Cheol-gyu of the United Future Party increased assets from 2.7 billion KRW to 3.9 billion KRW, a 1.2 billion KRW increase.

There were also 4 members (1.4%) whose assets decreased by more than 1 billion KRW, most of whom were billionaires. Kim Byung-kwan of the Democratic Party, former chairman of Webzen and considered the undisputed number one in assets among members, recorded a decrease from 276.36306 billion KRW by 45.21857 billion KRW to 231.14449 billion KRW. Kim Se-yeon of the United Future Party followed with a decrease from 96.69531 billion KRW by 11.36121 billion KRW to 85.33410 billion KRW.

Jung Yoo-seop of the United Future Party saw assets decrease from 6.22655 billion KRW to 3.02174 billion KRW, a drop of 3.248 billion KRW, and Kim Jong-seok of the United Future Party also experienced a decrease from 7.3138 billion KRW to 4.36645 billion KRW, a decline of 2.93492 billion KRW last year.

There were also members with negative assets. Jin Sun-mi of the Democratic Party reported assets of negative 1.14556 billion KRW. Although the deficit narrowed compared to the previous year (-1.38691 billion KRW), it still remains negative. Former member Kim Soo-min, who left the Minsheng Party amid the 'self-expulsion' incident, saw assets decrease from 73.59 million KRW to negative 35.53 million KRW, a drop of nearly 100 million KRW.