Heo Kyung-young's Wealth Increases by 40 Billion Won in 3 Years... Top Wealth Among Proportional Representation Candidates

Candidate Heo under police investigation for sexual harassment in Shindo
Top property owner among district candidates is People Power Party's Kim Bokdeok

Heo Kyung-young, honorary representative of the National Revolutionary Party and a proportional representation candidate in the upcoming April 10 general election, has seen his assets increase by more than 40 billion KRW over the past three years. On the 25th, during the final candidate registration process by the Central Election Commission, Heo reported assets totaling 48,158,486,000 KRW, the highest among the 253 proportional representation candidates.

Heo Kyung-young, Honorary Representative of the National Revolutionary Party.
Photo by Yonhap News

This is the largest amount of assets held among the 253 proportional representation candidates from 38 parties, more than five times the amount of the second-place candidate, Lee Gi-nam of the Hishi Tag National Policy Party, who reported 8,868,810,000 KRW. In April 2021, during the Seoul mayoral by-election, Heo's assets were 7,262,240,000 KRW. This means his assets increased by approximately 40.9 billion KRW in three years. Heo also attracted attention for a sharp increase in assets when he ran for president in 2022. At that time, he reported assets of about 26.4 billion KRW, an increase of 19.1 billion KRW in one year.

Heo owns tens of thousands of pyeong of land in Jangheung-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, valued at about 25.8 billion KRW. In addition, he owns buildings worth about 25.1 billion KRW, including Haneulgung in Jangheung-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, the Piccadilly Building commercial space in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and the National Revolutionary Party office in Yeouido, Seoul. The largest portion of his declared assets is securities. Heo holds unlisted stocks in companies such as 'Haneul Gung Co., Ltd.' and 'Choejong Gyoha Neulgo Co., Ltd.', which he reported to be worth approximately 55.1 billion KRW.

However, since these are unlisted stocks not traded on the securities market, the exact value is uncertain. Previously, the police received a collective accusation alleging that Heo sexually assaulted multiple followers at the religious facility 'Haneulgung' and are currently investigating. Heo's side stated, "It was giving spiritual energy," and added, "The accusation was filed right after announcing his candidacy for the general election."

Meanwhile, among the 699 district candidates, the candidate with the largest assets was Kim Bok-deok of the People Power Party in Bucheon Gap, Gyeonggi Province, with 144,667,487,000 KRW. Kim is a high school graduate entrepreneur who founded a lighting company in 1994 and listed it on KOSDAQ in 2020.

The second place was Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party in Seongnam Bundang Gap, Gyeonggi Province, with 140,135,485,000 KRW; third was Park Deok-heum of the People Power Party in Boeun, Okcheon, Yeongdong, and Goesan, Chungbuk, with 56,278,830,000 KRW; fourth was Lee Sang-gyu in Seongbuk-eul, Seoul, with 45,917,870,000 KRW. The fifth overall and the highest asset holder in the Democratic Party was Kim Tae-hyung in Gangnam Gap, Seoul, with 40,327,222,000 KRW.