February Ad-hoc Wealth Disclosure for Public Officials, Lee Han-ju the Highest with 7.5 Billion Won... Total 120 People

On the 27th, the Government Public Ethics Committee disclosed through the official gazette the property registration details of 120 former and current high-ranking public officials who had a change in status, such as new appointments, promotions, and retirements.

Among the subjects of this disclosure, the incumbent public official who reported the most wealth was Lee Han-ju, Chairperson of the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences under the Office for Government Policy Coordination, who registered a total wealth of 7.578 billion won. Chairman Lee was found to hold building values alone amounting to approximately 5.5 billion won, including an apartment pre-sale right (2.31 billion won) in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul owned by himself, and commercial properties in Ansan and Yeongdeungpo in his spouse's name. He reported approximately 1.66 billion won in deposits.

Following him was Lee Yong-cheol, Commissioner of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, who reported 3.853 billion won. Commissioner Lee had a high proportion of real estate assets, including a jeonse (leasehold) right for an apartment in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu in his own name, and an apartment pre-sale right in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu in his spouse's name.

The wealth status of major newly registered high-ranking public officials is as follows:

• Song Gi-do, President of the Korea Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 2.241 billion won
• Kim Yi-tak, First Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: 1.774 billion won
• Kim Chang-ryong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Cambodia: 1.664 billion won
• Ryu Hyun-chul, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Headquarters, Ministry of Employment and Labor: 1.452 billion won
• Jang Hong-jae, Head of the School Policy Office, Ministry of Education: 1.413 billion won

Particularly, Ambassador Kim Chang-ryong drew attention by reporting virtual assets worth approximately 19 million won, including Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Ethereum, and Kim Ki-sung, Assistant Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was also found to hold a small amount of virtual assets.

Detailed information on the wealth details of the public officials disclosed this time can be checked through the Public Ethics System (peti.go.kr).