Kim Jowon "Remarriage Rumors Are Untrue, Family on the Brink of Collapse"

Former Chief Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Jo-won. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Kim Jowon, former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, who did not dispose of his multiple homes in Gangnam, Seoul, and stepped down, clarified that the speculations about him are "completely untrue."

On the 12th, Kim reportedly said to a media outlet, "The reports about my remarriage and other matters are very different from the truth," adding, "The false reports are causing my family to fall apart."

Earlier, Park Sungjoong, a member of the Future United Party, said about Kim on the same day, "There are issues including his relationship with his wife and remarriage," and "(I am) a military colleague of Kim, and I know him better than anyone. There are various difficult internal situations," he stated.

Kim Jongmin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, also appeared on KBS 1TV's 'Sasageon Geon' on the 11th and said, "He is said to own two houses, but there are various undisclosed family matters."

Regarding the speculation that Kim did not attend the last meeting of the Blue House senior secretaries and aides, and that his withdrawal from the group chat room involving Blue House staff was an indirect protest against the government, Kim reportedly said, "The facts are different," but added, "However, the detailed circumstances cannot and should not be explained."

Previously, Kim had decided to sell his apartment in Jamsil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, which he owned, following the Blue House guideline to "dispose of all but one house," but it was revealed that he listed the property at about 200 million won above the market price, leading to criticism that he "had no intention to sell."

In addition to the Jamsil apartment, Kim also owns another apartment in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu.

Kim left the Blue House after submitting his resignation along with five other aides on the 7th.