Lee Hanju, Chairman of the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences (NRC), reported assets totaling approximately 7.6 billion won. Of this amount, around 6 billion won was reported as real estate assets, including apartments, commercial properties, and land. Chairman Lee is known as President Lee Jae-myung's 'economic mentor'. At the launch of the Lee administration, he served as Chairman of the National Policy Planning Committee, drawing up the blueprint for the new government's policies.
President Lee Jae-myung is taking a commemorative photo after presenting the appointment letter to Lee Han-ju, Chairman of the National Policy Planning Committee (currently Chairman of the National Research Council of Economics, Humanities, and Social Sciences), at the Yongsan Presidential Office on July 4, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News
The Government Public Officials Ethics Committee announced on February 27 that it has disclosed the assets of 120 senior public officials, including Chairman Lee, who experienced status changes such as appointment, promotion, or retirement between November 2 and December 1 of last year.
Among the current officials whose assets were disclosed, Chairman Lee reported the highest amount, with a total of 7,578,520,000 won. His assets include an apartment subscription right in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul under his name valued at 2,314,000,000 won; a leasehold for an apartment in Imae-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province under his spouse's name (1,150,000,000 won); and a commercial property in Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (700,000,000 won), amounting to a total of 5,518,540,000 won in buildings. He also reported land holdings valued at 503,160,000 won in Yongmun-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province under his and his spouse's names, and a road in Onam-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province under his younger son's name. His reported deposits amounted to 1,660,020,000 won.
Choi Youngchan, Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Government Legislation, reported a total of 5,471,160,000 won, making him the second highest after Chairman Lee. Deputy Chief Choi reported buildings worth 3,680,950,000 won, including an apartment in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul under his and his spouse's names (2,287,000,000 won) and a building in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul owned by his spouse (1,075,650,000 won). He also reported deposits of 830,730,000 won and securities worth 773,950,000 won.
Hyun Suyeop, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, reported total assets of 4,223,510,000 won, including buildings valued at 1,505,870,000 won (such as an apartment in Naseong-dong, Sejong City under his name and a multiplex home in Seocho-gu under both spouses' names), deposits of about 1.3 billion won, and securities worth about 674,000,000 won under his spouse's name.
In addition, Yi Yongcheol, Commissioner of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, reported about 3,853,000,000 won, and Park Sukeun, Chairman of the Central Labor Relations Commission, reported about 900,000,000 won in assets.
Kyun Jongho, Ambassador for Climate Change at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported a total of 3,283,970,000 won, and Lim Sangwoo, Ambassador for Public Diplomacy, reported 1,767,150,000 won. Ambassador Lim and his spouse own an apartment in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (1,680,000,000 won) and a leasehold for an apartment in Ahyeon-dong, Mapo-gu (1,300,000,000 won). Park Jonghan, Economic Diplomacy Coordinator, reported total assets of 2,723,560,000 won, including an apartment in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul under both spouses' names (1,884,000,000 won). Park Il, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported total assets of 2,190,070,000 won, including an apartment in Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul under both spouses' names (1,400,000,000 won).
Meanwhile, among retirees, Noh Doyoung, former President of the Institute for Basic Science, reported the highest assets, totaling 17,083,860,000 won. He reported buildings worth 2,764,690,000 won, including an apartment in Seongdong-gu, Seoul under both spouses' names. He also owned land in Gwangju City valued at 1,295,100,000 won. His reported deposits were 6,928,590,000 won, and securities amounted to 5,197,340,000 won.
Following him, Kim Dongseop, former CEO of Korea National Oil Corporation, reported about 9,773,000,000 won, an increase of approximately 624,000,000 won from the previous report. Kim Gihwan, former President of Korea Foundation, reported about 6,715,000,000 won, an increase of about 1,979,000,000 won. Former President Kim explained that the increase in his assets was due to a rise in stock prices and inheritance of stocks.
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