[2025 Audit] National Tax Service Chief Responds to Criticism Over Non-Residential Investment Property: "Will Move In After Lease Expires"

Comprehensive Audit by National Assembly’s Planning and Finance Committee on the 29th
Chun Haram: "Forcibly Imposing Regulations on the Public"

Im Kwanghyun, Commissioner of the National Tax Service, stated on the 29th that he plans to move into his apartment in Songpa-gu, Seoul, once the current lease expires, as he is not residing there at present. This decision appears to have been made following controversy over senior government officials owning residential properties for investment purposes after the October 15 real estate measures.

Im Kwanghyun, Commissioner of the National Tax Service, is attending the 2025 comprehensive government audit held by the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee on the 29th and responding to members' inquiries. Photo by Yonhap News

During the comprehensive government audit by the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee on this day, Assemblyman Chun Haram of the Reform New Party asked, "Do you have plans to sell the non-residential property to someone who intends to live there immediately?" Commissioner Im replied, "When the lease expires, we will move in ourselves."

Assemblyman Chun addressed Commissioner Im, saying, "You bought a house in Songpa-gu in 2004 for less than 200 million won, it was rebuilt, and now the actual transaction price of this apartment is about 1.7 billion won. You have owned it for a long time, but have you ever actually lived there?"

He went on to mention that on the 15th, Commissioner Im expressed his intention to establish a market order focused on real demand, and pointed out, "Is it appropriate to excessively regulate the public with rules that you yourself cannot fully comply with?"

In response, Commissioner Im explained, "It was the first home I purchased in Seoul, and I intended to live there, but was unable to due to my children's school transfer issues. I plan to live there after I retire." He added, "At the time of purchase, there were no requirements for actual residence, but now, given public sentiment, I will reside there."

Assemblyman Chun further stated, "Even the head of the National Tax Service, who is leading the implementation of the 11th real estate measure, still owns a property within a land transaction permit zone where he cannot actually reside. Please examine whether senior officials in the Lee Jaemyung administration are hypocritically lecturing the public while forcibly imposing regulations that they themselves cannot follow."

He also emphasized, "In a capitalist market economy, taking out loans and purchasing real estate with tenants is neither illegal nor something to be criticized in itself. Please carefully consider policies from the perspective of the younger generation who need to climb the housing ladder."