"Apartment Sold by No Young-min, Now Renting Monthly? Seoul National University Bulletin Board Buzzes"

Chief Noh Young-min and Five Senior Officials Abruptly Submit Resignations

Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid the collective resignation of senior secretaries (vice-ministerial level) belonging to the Presidential Secretariat, including Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min, a post titled "Is Noh Young-min going to rent now?" was uploaded on the Seoul National University bulletin board SNU Life on the 7th.

On that day, a netizen wrote in the post, "If he sold both the apartments in Cheongju and Banpo, he will have to live in a monthly rental once he leaves the official residence," adding, "Since he is from a party that says renting is better, surely he won't buy another house, right? Will he live in a jeonse (long-term deposit lease) that should be abolished?"

Chief Noh recently disposed of two apartments he owned in accordance with the Blue House aides' policy to sell multiple homes. If Chief Noh's resignation from the Blue House official residence is processed, he will need to find a place to live immediately.

Noh Young-min, Chief of Staff to the President. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Recently, Chief Noh caused controversy over the "one smart home" issue by deciding to sell his constituency apartment instead of the Gangnam apartment.

Originally, Chief Noh owned two apartments in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju, Chungbuk. However, after the backlash from the June 17 real estate measures, which intensified criticism of ruling party figures holding multiple homes, he stated, "We must take the lead," and announced, "I put the Banpo apartment up for a quick sale." But within 50 minutes, he reversed his statement, saying, "I will sell the Cheongju apartment, not Banpo."

Meanwhile, those who submitted their resignations on the same day, besides Chief Noh, include Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung, Senior Secretary for Public Communication Yoon Do-han, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Jo-won, Senior Secretary for Personnel Affairs Kim Oe-sook, and Senior Secretary for Civil Society Kim Geo-seong. They are all senior secretaries directly under Chief Noh in the Secretariat.

The background for their collective resignation appears to be the worsening public opinion regarding real estate policies.

Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok stated at the Blue House Press Hall that day, "They submitted their resignations with the intention of taking comprehensive responsibility for the recent situation."