"That Could Lead to Prison"... Joo Jinwoo Criticizes Lee Hyehoon over 9 Billion Won 'Lottery Apartment' Subscription Allegations

Allegations of 'Lottery Subscription' for Gangnam Apartment by Lee Hyehoon and Her Husband
Eldest Son Listed as Dependent and Received Extra Points Despite Being Married
Joo Jinwoo: "Did the Eldest Son Live in Banpo While the Daughter-in-Law Lived i

Joo Jinwoo, a member of the People Power Party, criticized Lee Hyehoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, regarding allegations of apartment subscription in Gangnam, Seoul, calling it "a serious matter involving fraudulent subscription winning and cancellation of apartment subscription that could lead to imprisonment." On January 8, through his social media account, Assemblyman Joo stated, "The fraudulent subscription win by Lee Hyehoon and her husband has been exposed."

"That Could Lead to Prison"... Joo Jinwoo Criticizes Lee Hyehoon over 9 Billion Won 'Lottery Apartment' Subscription Allegations

Assemblyman Joo pointed out, "(The nominee) falsely listed her eldest son, who was already married and living independently, as a dependent in the subscription process for a 9 billion won 'lottery apartment.'" He added, "Her explanation is also false. Are we supposed to believe the lie that her married son lived with Lee Hyehoon while her daughter-in-law lived separately in Yongsan?"

He further stated, "An investigation would reveal the truth immediately. This is a massive subscription fraud case." He emphasized, "According to Article 65 of the Housing Act, if fraudulent subscription is revealed, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport or the project operator must cancel the housing contract. The ownership of Lee Hyehoon and her husband will be nullified." He continued, "Charges of fraud, obstruction of business, and forgery and use of private documents also apply. If the unjust profit amounts to 9 billion won, immediate arrest is warranted." He concluded, "This is no longer a matter that ends with withdrawal from nomination. It is a case that will result in imprisonment."

On this day, allegations surfaced that Lee Hyehoon and her husband inflated the number of dependents to win the 'lottery subscription' for an apartment in Gangnam, Seoul. It is claimed that they delayed registering their eldest son's marriage, grouping him as part of the same household to artificially increase their subscription score.

Lee Hyehoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, has been accused of inflating the number of dependents to win the 'lottery subscription' for an apartment in Gangnam, Seoul.

According to data analyzed by Chun Haram, a member of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee from the Reform Party, who received submissions from the Korea Real Estate Board and others on January 8, Lee Hyehoon's husband applied for a subscription in July 2024 for a 137.6-square-meter (approximately 54 pyeong) unit in Raemian One Pentas, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and won first priority in the general supply. He won the subscription in August of that year, paid the full amount of 3,678.4 million won, and then gifted a 35% share of the subscription rights to Lee Hyehoon. The apartment is currently known to be trading at around 7 billion won, resulting in a market profit of over 3 billion won. Raemian One Pentas is classified as a so-called 'lottery subscription' due to its high expected returns, attracting a large number of high-score applicants at the time.

However, the issue raised was that the eldest son, listed as a dependent by Lee Hyehoon and her husband, was already married as of December 2023, one year prior to the subscription application. After joining the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy in Sejong City in August 2023, the eldest son was reportedly living in a rental apartment in Sodam-dong, Sejong City, under a contract signed in July of that year in Lee Hyehoon's name. Two weeks before his wedding, he signed a rental contract for an apartment in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, with a deposit of 730 million won.

Under the current subscription system, only unmarried children are recognized as dependents, and the address on the resident registration must match that of the parents. However, although the eldest son held a wedding ceremony, he did not register the marriage and maintained his official status as unmarried, and despite securing a rental apartment, he did not change his registered address. It was found that he changed his address to the Yongsan rental apartment only two days after the subscription application deadline.

Assemblyman Chun pointed out, "Lee Hyehoon used every possible means, including false address registration and pretending her son was unmarried, to maximize her wealth and committed the ultimate act of fraudulent subscription." He stressed, "Fraudulent subscription not only results in cancellation of the win but can also lead to imprisonment for up to three years. Therefore, the nominee should resign, and criminal proceedings must begin immediately."