[Asset Disclosure] Assets of 362 Public Officials Revealed... No. 1 Is Ambassador to China Noh Jaeheon with 53 Billion Won

Disclosure of Public Officials' Assets
Choi Hwiyeong, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Tops Current Ministers
Average Assets of 2.7 Billion Won for 25 Blue House Staff Members

The Government Public Officials Ethics Committee released the assets of 362 high-ranking public officials on January 30. Among them, Noh Jaeheon, Ambassador to China, was found to have the largest amount of assets.

This asset disclosure targeted high-ranking officials who experienced changes in status, such as appointments, promotions, or retirements, between July 2 and November 1 of last year.

Yonhap News

Ambassador Noh reported a total of 53.044 billion won in assets under his and his family's names, making him the wealthiest among those disclosed. Under his own name, he reported buildings worth over 13.2 billion won, including mixed-use buildings in Itaewon-dong and Yeonhui-dong, and a single-family house in Gugi-dong, all located in Seoul. He also reported 12.618 billion won in deposits and 21.322 billion won in securities.

Lee Chanjin, Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, held a total of 38.488 billion won in assets, ranking second. Under his name, he owned buildings worth about 2.952 billion won, including an apartment in Umyeon-dong, Seocho-gu, and commercial properties in Seongdong-gu and Jung-gu, Seoul, as well as deposits totaling over 31 billion won, bringing his total assets to 38.488 billion won.

Kim Daejin, former President of the Korea National University of Arts, reported 34.277 billion won in assets, ranking third. This figure increased by about 12.1 billion won compared to March last year (approximately 22.1 billion won), which he explained was due to savings, interest, housing reconstruction, and an increase in the valuation of unlisted stocks. Kim reported a commercial property in Banpo-dong under his spouse's name (worth over 8 billion won), deposits of about 13.29 billion won, and securities worth about 18.408 billion won.

Among retirees, the official with the most assets was Byun Pilgeon, former Director General for Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice. Byun's assets amounted to 49.537 billion won, an increase of over 1.7 billion won compared to the previous report. Next, Yoo Inchon, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, saw his assets rise by about 600 million won to 18.377 billion won, while Ryu Gwangjun, former Director General for Science and Technology Innovation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, reported an increase of about 860 million won to 15.221 billion won.

Meanwhile, among current ministers, Choi Hwiyeong, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, had the highest assets at 23.872 billion won. Han Seongsook, Minister of SMEs and Startups and former CEO of Naver, followed with 22.115 billion won.

Among Blue House staff whose assets were disclosed, there were 25 officials in total, with an average asset value of 2.7 billion won.