[Exclusive] President Yoon’s Mother-in-Law, Choi, Has Large Swath of Real Estate Seized Due to Tax Arrears

[비즈한국] With the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol only one day away, it has been confirmed through BizHankook’s reporting that President Yoon’s mother-in-law, Choi, has had a large portion of her real estate seized due to outstanding tax arrears. The seized properties include land owned by Choi in Yangpyeong-gun (Gyeonggi-do), Donghae-si (Gangwon-do), and Dangjin-si (Chungcheongnam-do).

It has been confirmed that land in Donghae-si owned by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s mother-in-law, Choi, has been seized. Choi, who had been serving a one-year prison sentence for charges including the forgery of a bank balance certificate, is pictured leaving the Seoul Eastern Detention Center on May 14 last year after being released on parole. Photo = Reporter Park Jung-hoon

It was revealed that the Seongnam City Hall in Gyeonggi-do seized a large number of properties owned by President Yoon’s mother-in-law, Choi, on December 4 of last year. The properties seized from Choi, as confirmed by BizHankook, include nine plots of land in Byeongsan-ri, Yangpyeong-gun (Gyeonggi-do)—the site of the controversy regarding the change in the Yangpyeong Expressway terminal—as well as two plots in Baegan-ri, Yangpyeong-gun; one plot in Geumnam-ri, Hwado-eup, Namyangju-si; three plots in Dangsan-ri and one in Yeongcheon-ri, Dangjin-si (Chungnam); and one plot in Iro-dong, Donghae-si (Gangwon-do). The total land area held by Choi subject to the seizure reaches 21,392 square meters, or approximately 6,471 pyeong.

The real estate registries list the cause of the seizure as "Seizure (Tax Revenue Management Division-23066)" with "Seongnam City" as the obligee. Since the Tax Revenue Management Division at Seongnam City Hall is responsible for collecting local taxes and local administrative penalties/levies (non-tax revenue), it can be inferred that Choi has fallen behind on local taxes or non-tax revenue payments. Although about four months have passed since Choi’s interests were seized, the seizure registration remains in effect and has not yet been lifted.

Regarding this matter, an official from Seongnam City Hall explained, "Seizures are carried out when payments such as non-tax revenue are in arrears," adding, "I will look into the specific items for which Choi is in arrears."