Kim Yongbeom Furious at Kim Eunhye's "Is Your Daughter Living in Jeonse?" Remark: "How Is This Gap Investment?"

National Assembly Steering Committee on the 18th
Kim Eunhye asks, "Who saved your daughter's jeonse deposit?"
Chief of Policy responds, "This is not gap investment. Why involve my family?"

On the 18th, at the plenary meeting of the Steering Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Kim Yongbeom, Chief of Policy at the Presidential Office, was engaged in a verbal dispute while responding to a question from Kim Eunhye, a member of the People Power Party. Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Presidential Office, intervened to stop the argument. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 18th, Kim Yongbeom, Chief of Policy at the Presidential Office, strongly objected to Assemblywoman Kim Eunhye of the People Power Party, who raised suspicions of gap investment involving his daughter, stating, "This is not gap investment."

During the plenary meeting of the Steering Committee at the National Assembly that day, Assemblywoman Kim asked, "Who saved up the deposit for your daughter’s jeonse? Did you purchase the house through gap investment?" In response, Kim explained, "My daughter saved some money, and I lent her some as well. This is not gap investment. I paid all the interim payments myself."

Assemblywoman Kim continued, "Your daughter is not living on a monthly rent, is she? Jeonse is often described as a stepping stone to homeownership. Please stop denying it." Kim countered again, saying, "That is not the case for my daughter. This is not gap investment for the purpose of acquiring property." He added, "Please do not involve my family in this way."

However, Assemblywoman Kim argued, "The government has cut most of the policy loans related to youth jeonse. While it is claimed that 97% of youth monthly rent is supported, more than 3 trillion won has been cut from the Didimdol and Bogeummok loan budgets." She further explained the intent behind her question regarding his daughter's jeonse residence, stating, "Isn’t it natural for a father to want his daughter to live in a jeonse home? Every parent wants their son or daughter to climb the housing ladder through jeonse."

Kim responded once again, raising his voice, "There is no need to mention my daughter like this." He continued, "The previous administration managed things too loosely, which was rectified with the 6·27 Real Estate Measures. How can you involve my family in this way?"

Assemblywoman Kim replied, "I am not trying to involve your family, but to encourage empathy," while Kim retorted, "I said I do not engage in gap investment. Yet you are implying that my daughter does," as the heated exchange continued.

During this exchange, Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, intervened, saying, "This is not appropriate," but Kim protested strongly, "Please stay out of this. You even mentioned filing a perjury complaint, among other things."

Ultimately, Kim Byungki, Chair of the Steering Committee, reprimanded, "Is this a place for the Chief of Policy to lose his temper?" Kim apologized, saying, "I am sorry." Woo added, "Family matters are sensitive for everyone. Please understand."