[2023 Asset Disclosure] From Qing Dynasty Paintings to Violins and Gold Bars

Wealth Disclosure of 2,037 Senior Officials... Ministers Kwon Young-se and Park Jin Report Instruments and More

Among the 2,037 high-ranking officials who disclosed their assets this year, there were individuals who owned various assets beyond deposits and real estate. Notably, several reported artworks, musical instruments, and gold, which is considered a safe asset.

On the 30th, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission publicly disclosed the asset declarations of subjects including executive branch political appointees (minister and vice minister level), first-grade public officials, presidents of national universities, metropolitan and provincial superintendents of education, heads of public-related organizations, metropolitan and basic local government heads, and metropolitan council members through the official gazette.

Among those subject to asset disclosure, Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se reported three harps (worth 130 million KRW) and one painting (30 million KRW) under his spouse’s name. His spouse is known to be a harpist who graduated from Seoul National University’s College of Music. Minister Kwon declared total assets amounting to 4.63556 billion KRW, including a newly acquired hotel membership.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin’s spouse also declared a violin valued at 70 million KRW. Additionally, Park’s spouse owns a diamond ring (10.3 million KRW) and a brooch (5 million KRW). Minister Park declared total assets of 2.91258 billion KRW.

Lee Chung-myeon, the newly appointed diplomatic secretary at the Presidential Office, declared a performer’s flute worth 13 million KRW under his daughter’s name. Lee Ho-young, president of Changwon National University, declared a saxophone valued at 14 million KRW, and Shin Ja-yong, director of the Ministry of Justice’s Prosecution Bureau, registered a double bass worth 63 million KRW under his spouse’s name.

A work by a late Qing Dynasty painter was also confirmed as an asset. Park Cheong-in, vice president of Hankyong National University, declared a painting titled "Osaek Gwado" valued at 300 million KRW.

Several public officials also declared gold. The spouse of Jeong Seung-il, president of Korea Electric Power Corporation, owned gold bars worth 85 million KRW, a diamond ring (10 million KRW), and six Oriental paintings valued at 64 million KRW. Auditor Lee Mi-hyun of the Board of Audit and Inspection registered gold bars worth 70 million KRW under her name, as well as two paintings under her spouse’s name totaling 6.8 million KRW.

Additionally, Hwang Byung-joo, head of the Criminal Division at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, declared gold worth 6.5 million KRW and diamond rings worth 25 million KRW under his spouse’s name. Jeong Young-hak, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office, declared a 1-carat diamond under his own name and a 2-carat diamond under his spouse’s name, totaling 30 million KRW.