[Public Officials' Assets] Lee Chun-hee, Sejong Mayor, Ranks 2nd Nationwide Among Local Government Heads in Total Assets

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The total assets of Lee Chun-hee, Mayor of Sejong City, have been recorded as the highest among metropolitan city and provincial heads in the Chungcheong region. Mayor Lee's total assets also ranked second among the heads of 17 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide.

In the public official asset disclosure released on the 26th, Mayor Lee reported total assets amounting to 4.069 billion KRW. This is an increase of 372 million KRW compared to the assets reported last year (2018).

The majority of Mayor Lee's assets consist of buildings and deposits. As of last year, Mayor Lee owned ▲ an apartment in Byeolyang-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do (worth approximately 872 million KRW) ▲ a leasehold apartment in Saeteum Village, Saerom-dong, Sejong City (worth approximately 250 million KRW) ▲ a pre-sale apartment right in Jiphyeon-ri, Sejong City (worth approximately 350 million KRW). The combined current value of these properties is 1.47 billion KRW, accounting for 36.1% of the total assets reported by Mayor Lee.

Additionally, deposits under Mayor Lee’s name amount to 1.072 billion KRW, representing 26.3% of the total assets. Other assets included in Mayor Lee’s total wealth are forest land, fields, and paddies owned by himself and his mother, as well as the S Building located in Naseong-dong, Sejong City owned by his spouse, a detached house in Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk, and other deposit assets.

Mayor Lee’s total assets are by far the highest among local government heads in the Chungcheong region and rank second nationwide among metropolitan city and provincial heads, following Oh Keo-don, Mayor of Busan (total assets of 6.447 billion KRW).

Among the four local government heads in the Chungcheong region, Lee Si-jong, Governor of Chungbuk Province, reported total assets of 1.234 billion KRW (a decrease of 283 million KRW from the previous year), ranking second after Sejong. Following him, Heo Tae-jeong, Mayor of Daejeon City, reported 517 million KRW (a decrease of 13 million KRW), and Yang Seung-jo, Governor of Chungnam Province, reported 412 million KRW (a decrease of 37 million KRW).

Among the Chungcheong region’s metropolitan and provincial superintendents of education, Kim Byung-woo, Superintendent of Chungbuk Office of Education, reported the highest total assets of 1.447 billion KRW (an increase of 130 million KRW from the previous year). He was followed by Seol Dong-ho, Superintendent of Daejeon Office of Education, with 976 million KRW (an increase of 109 million KRW), Kim Ji-chul, Superintendent of Chungnam Office of Education, with 949 million KRW (an increase of 114 million KRW), and Choi Gyo-jin, Superintendent of Sejong Office of Education, with 891 million KRW (an increase of 29 million KRW).

Additionally, the chairpersons of city and provincial councils reported the following asset statuses: ▲ Seo Geum-taek, Chairperson of Sejong City Council, with 634 million KRW (an increase of 7.7 million KRW), ▲ Kim Jong-cheon, Chairperson of Daejeon City Council, with 586 million KRW (a decrease of 4.2 million KRW), ▲ Jang Seon-bae, Chairperson of Chungbuk Provincial Council, with 476 million KRW (a decrease of 1.5 million KRW), and ▲ Yoo Byung-guk, Chairperson of Chungnam Provincial Council, with 135 million KRW (a decrease of 10.6 million KRW).

Meanwhile, the Government Official Ethics Committee disclosed the regular asset change reports of 1,865 individuals subject to asset disclosure at midnight today via the official gazette. The subjects include political appointees under the executive branch, senior public officials of grade A, national university presidents, heads of public-related organizations, metropolitan and basic local government heads, metropolitan council members, and metropolitan and provincial superintendents of education.

The asset disclosure details can be checked on the Republic of Korea Electronic Official Gazette website.