Even No Young-min, Who Urged to 'Sell Houses,' Owns 2 Homes with Property Value Up 130 Million Won... 16 Blue House Aides Are 'Multiple Homeowners'

Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Some key aides of the Blue House, including Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min, were still found to be 'multiple homeowners' owning more than one house.

According to the '2020 Regular Asset Disclosure List' released on the 26th by the Government Ethics Committee through the official gazette, among the 49 Blue House secretaries subject to this asset disclosure, 16, including Chief Secretary Noh, were identified as multiple homeowners. The disclosed assets are based on the end of last year.

Chief Secretary Noh reported the value of an apartment in Hanshin Serae Village, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, jointly owned with his spouse, at 590 million KRW. This is an increase of 128 million KRW from the previous report. The Jinro Apartment located in Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, which was his former constituency during his time as a member of the National Assembly, was reported at 156 million KRW, down 18 million KRW from the previous report.

In December last year, right after the government announced a high-intensity real estate policy, Chief Secretary Noh urged senior public officials to actively participate, recommending that "Blue House senior officials who own two or more houses in the metropolitan area should dispose of all but one as soon as possible unless there are unavoidable reasons." He emphasized the need for senior Blue House officials to set an example.

In Chief Secretary Noh's case, since he does not own two houses in the metropolitan area, he does not fall under the criteria he himself proposed.

However, this contrasts with President Moon Jae-in's real estate policy aiming for 'one household, one house,' as he sold the residence in Hong Eun-dong, Seoul, owned by his wife Kim Jung-sook, in his first year in office in 2017. It is known that President Moon sold the house where he actually lived until just before the presidential election to set an example for stabilizing the real estate market.

Kim Jo-won, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House [Photo by Yonhap News]

There were still many aides in the Blue House who owned two houses in the metropolitan area and speculative overheated districts. In particular, Kim Jo-won, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs from the Board of Audit and Inspection, reported owning two apartments only in the so-called 'Gangnam 3 districts.'

Senior Secretary Kim reported the value of his own apartment in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Dogok Hanshin Apartment, at 848 million KRW, and his spouse's apartment in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Galleria Palace, at 920 million KRW.

Hwang Deok-soon, Senior Secretary for Jobs, reported owning three houses: Namyang Hutton Apartment in Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, at 245 million KRW; Hildesheim Apartment in Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, at 220 million KRW; and a detached house in Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, at 84.7 million KRW.

Yoon Sung-won, Secretary for Land, Infrastructure and Transport, who handles housing policy, was found to own two houses: Gyeongnam Nonhyeon Apartment in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at 569 million KRW, and LH Pentahills Apartment in Saesam Village 6 Complex, Sorim-dong, Sejong, at 194 million KRW. However, Secretary Yoon explained regarding the Sejong apartment, "It was completed while I was working in Seoul, and I have not yet moved in. Considering the purpose of the special supply system for public officials, I plan to move in and reside before selling it."

Yeo Hyun-ho, Secretary for National Public Relations, reported his own apartment (pre-sale rights) in Burim-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, at 872.15 million KRW; his spouse's apartment in Gongdeok-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Gongdeok Samsung Apartment, at 565 million KRW; and his eldest daughter's townhouse in Sinchang-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at 200 million KRW. However, Secretary Yeo stated that the apartment in Gwacheon is currently under reconstruction and is expected to be available in December. He added that once he moves into that apartment, he plans to sell the currently held apartment in Gongdeok-dong.

Kang Moon-dae, Secretary for Social Coordination, reported the Dongseong Apartment in Deungchon-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, jointly owned with his spouse, at 672 million KRW, and the Jugong 5 Complex Apartment in Deungchon-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, owned by his spouse, at 252 million KRW.

Jo Sung-jae, Secretary for Employment and Labor, reported the Olympic Athletes' Village Apartment in Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, jointly owned with his spouse, at 880 million KRW, and an apartment in Haedeul Village, Daepyeong-dong, Sejong City, a speculative overheated district, at 331 million KRW. Additionally, he reported a leasehold right on Mapo Raemian Apartment in Ahyeon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, owned by his spouse, valued at 730 million KRW.

Others identified as multiple homeowners include Kim Geo-seong, Senior Secretary for Civil Society; Lee Ho-seung, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs; Kim Oe-sook, Senior Secretary for Personnel; Seok Jong-hoon, Secretary for Small and Medium Ventures; Kim Ae-kyung, Secretary for Overseas Press; Park Jin-gyu, Secretary for New Southern and New Northern Policies; Kang Sung-cheon, former Secretary for Industrial Policy (at the time of reporting, currently Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups); Noh Kyu-deok, Secretary for Security Strategy; and Kim Kwang-jin, Secretary for Political Affairs.

On the other hand, Kim Yeon-myeong, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs, and Lee Jeong-do, Secretary for General Affairs, sold their houses according to the policy and became 'single homeowners.' However, such cases were only a very small minority compared to the whole.