[비즈한국] Kim Hyun-ji, Head of the First Annex Office, and Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong, known to be multi-homeowning staff at the Presidential Office, have each recently sold one property, becoming single-home owners. Chief Kim sold an apartment in Cheongju held in her spouse's name, while Chief Spokesperson Kang sold an apartment in Yongin held in her own name, both at prices more than 30 million won lower than the previous transaction for similar units. However, as the property held in Chief Kim's spouse's name was sold via a direct transaction to someone already registered at that address, the identity of the buyer and the logic behind the pricing remain points of contention.
According to Bizhankook’s reporting, Chief Kim Hyun-ji and Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong recently completed the sale of one property each held by their spouses or themselves. Chief Kim transferred the apartment in Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province (60㎡ exclusive area) held by her spouse on the 14th, and Chief Spokesperson Kang transferred her apartment in Giheung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province (139㎡) to a buyer on the 20th. Excluding these sold properties, Chief Spokesperson Kang still owns one apartment in Seocho-gu, Seoul, held by her spouse, and Chief Kim owns one apartment in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, held jointly with her spouse.
The sale prices are lower than previous market transactions. Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong signed the contract for her Yongin apartment in March at a price of 550 million won. This is 50 million won lower than the average transaction price for units of that size this year (3 cases, 600 million won). Prior to March of this year, transaction prices ranged from 580 million won to 610 million won. The Cheongju apartment held by Chief Kim Hyun-ji’s spouse was contracted in May for 90 million won, which is 40 million won lower than this year's transaction price for that size (1 case). Cumulative transaction prices since last year ranged from 120 million to 138 million won.
However, the validity of the property disposal by Chief Kim Hyun-ji’s spouse requires further verification. The person who purchased the house, surnamed Shin, has their registered address at the apartment. According to the high-ranking official asset disclosures from last September, Chief Kim’s mother was residing in that house at the time. Chief Kim’s spouse signed the direct transaction contract with Shin on the 13th and completed the registration of ownership transfer just one day later. This remains an area requiring further explanation regarding the counterparty and the pricing rationale.
Meanwhile, there is no confirmation regarding property disposal by other multi-homeowning Presidential Office staff. According to reports by Yonhap News and Segye Ilbo in March, when the regular high-ranking public official asset reports were released, Presidential staff identified as multi-homeowners—including Chief Kim Hyun-ji and Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong, as well as Senior Secretary for Personnel Management Jo Seong-ju, Secretary for Land, Infrastructure and Transport Lee Seong-hun, and Chunchugwan Director Kim Sang-ho—all set out to sell their properties. However, as of now, the disposal of multiple properties by the three others has not been confirmed.
The timing of these disposals by Presidential staff comes after the announcement that the deferral of the additional capital gains tax on multi-homeowners would end. The government announced in February that the grace period for the additional capital gains tax for multi-homeowners would conclude as scheduled on May 9. It was decided that the heavy tax rates would be reapplied to properties owned by multi-homeowners in designated adjustment areas. President Lee stated via social media on March 22, “I have instructed the Presidential Office and the Cabinet to exclude multi-homeowners, owners of non-residential high-priced homes, and those holding excessive real estate assets from the discussion, drafting, reporting, and approval processes for housing and real estate policies.”