'Prohibition of Concurrent Positions Violation' Lee Han-jun, LH President, "No Conflict of Interest" [2024 National Audit]

"Leaving Positions Such as Research Director, Things Are Not Settled"

Han Jun Lee, President of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), has been accused of violating the 'prohibition of concurrent positions' obligation. While acknowledging the fact, President Lee explained that he was unaware of it and denied any conflict of interest.

Lee Han-jun, President of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), is responding to questions at the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit held on the morning of the 10th. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the afternoon of the 10th, Han Junho, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized at the National Assembly audit, "Why did you not report or get approval for being registered as the chairman of the National Vision Research Institute?" It was confirmed that President Lee is also affiliated as an advisor to the Korea Transportation Engineers Association, a corporation.

LH handles appointment standards and discipline issues as if they were public officials. According to Article 37 of the Act on the Management of Public Institutions and internal regulations, LH executives and employees cannot hold concurrent positions for profit, and in the case of non-profit positions, approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is required.

However, Representative Han pointed out that President Lee was registered as the chairman of the National Vision Research Institute, a kind of CEO position, without reporting or obtaining approval. Representative Han said, "As of the registration on the 27th of last month, Han Jun Lee is the only person with representative authority at the National Vision Research Institute," and asked about the nature of the institute.

He added, "Professor Jung Chang-moo of Seoul National University, a member of the institute, was appointed as the head of the Land and Housing Research Institute affiliated with LH in July, and most of the association's executives work at engineering firms closely linked to LH's traffic impact assessments," raising concerns.

When Representative Han demanded a clear explanation regarding the violation of the prohibition on concurrent positions and the possibility of a conflict of interest, President Lee explained, "I quit about 7 to 8 years ago but did not properly organize it." Regarding Professor Jung's appointment as head of the Land and Housing Research Institute, he said, "I did not know we were working together," expressing regret, "If I had known we were together at the institute, this outcome would not have happened."

Regarding his advisory position at the association, he explained it was because he is a transportation engineer. He added, "Traffic impact assessments are not separately commissioned but are conducted as part of the overall service, so there is no direct relationship."