[2025 Asset Disclosure] Acting Minister of National Defense's Assets 470 Million KRW... Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs 4.96 Billion KRW

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Sees 1.4 Billion KRW Increase
Due to Rising Real Estate Prices

The acting Minister of National Defense, Kim Seon-ho's assets increased by 48.04 million KRW compared to the previous year, totaling 478.23 million KRW. In the case of Kang Jeong-ae, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, her assets rose by approximately 1.4 billion KRW due to the increase in real estate prices, reporting a total of 4.96618 billion KRW.

According to the "2025 Regular Asset Changes of Public Officials" published in the government gazette on the 27th by the Government Official Ethics Committee, Acting Minister Kim reported assets including one apartment of approximately 550 million KRW with a 국민 평형 (84㎡) in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul.

Acting Minister Kim and his spouse held deposits of 157.11 million KRW and 27.36 million KRW respectively, and also owned a 2016 Kia K9 valued at approximately 14.5 million KRW. Acting Minister Kim refused to disclose information regarding his eldest and second sons and grandchildren, citing independent livelihood maintenance and support of others as reasons.

Yonhap News

Minister Kang reported total assets of 4.96618 billion KRW, including an apartment in Seocho-gu, Seoul valued at approximately 4.265 billion KRW, and deposits in the names of herself, her spouse, and children worth about 1.1 billion KRW. The price of her apartment in Seocho-gu, Seoul, increased significantly, resulting in a 1.41419 billion KRW rise compared to the previous report.

Lee Hee-wan, Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, reported assets totaling 1.07286 billion KRW, an increase of 263.02 million KRW. This increase appears to reflect deposits rising by about 178.92 million KRW due to military retirement pay and retirement benefits from associations.

Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Intelligence Service, held assets totaling 3.62417 billion KRW, a decrease of 275.4 million KRW. Hwang Won-jin, 2nd Deputy Director, reported assets of 5.23754 billion KRW, an increase of 335 million KRW, and Yoon Oh-jun, 3rd Deputy Director, reported 3.22824 billion KRW, an increase of 770.13 million KRW. The main causes were stock sales and rising real estate prices.

Kim Myung-soo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported assets totaling 1.3506 billion KRW, an increase of 34.74 million KRW. This includes a newly acquired apartment in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, valued at approximately 805 million KRW (planned for actual residence), and deposits in the names of himself and his spouse totaling 667.33 million KRW.

Jung Jin-pal, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held assets totaling 2.70663 billion KRW, an increase of 93.91 million KRW. His assets include an apartment in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, valued at approximately 1.225 billion KRW, and deposits in the names of himself, his spouse, and children totaling about 1.47804 billion KRW.

Yang Yong-mo, Chief of Naval Staff, reported assets totaling 773.439 million KRW, an increase of 132.171 million KRW. This was due to the sale of an apartment in Changwon, Gyeongnam Province, and full repayment of related rental debts. Lee Young-soo, Chief of Air Staff, who recently faced difficulties due to a friendly fire incident, reported assets totaling 849.495 million KRW, an increase of 10.424 million KRW.

Go Chang-jun, Acting Chief of Army Staff, reported assets totaling 441.88 million KRW, an increase of 46.7 million KRW. This includes an apartment in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, valued at approximately 440 million KRW owned by himself and his spouse, and deposits totaling about 300 million KRW in the names of himself, his spouse, parents, and children.

Meanwhile, for generals such as Park An-su, Chief of Army Staff, Kwak Jong-geun, former Commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, Yeo In-hyung, former Commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, and Lee Jin-woo, former Commander of the Capital Defense Command, who were indicted and suspended due to involvement in the December 12 and 3 emergency martial law incidents, regular asset change reporting has been deferred. According to the current Public Officials Ethics Act, if reporting is impossible due to detention or other reasons, the Government Official Ethics Committee may defer or exempt the reporting of changes by resolution. Once the reason for deferral ceases, they must report the final asset registration or changes within two months from that day until the end of the month in which the deadline falls.