Minister-nominee offers apology for speculation at hearing

By Lee Tae-hoon

Knowledge Economy Minister-nominee Lee Jae-hoon expressed regret over his wife’s involvement in property speculation during his confirmation hearing, Friday.

Lee has been under heavy criticism because his wife purchased a house in a shanty town in Seoul in 2006 in anticipation that the government would soon redevelop the area as part of the New Town Program.

As Rep. Kim Jae-kyun of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) grilled him over the alleged speculation, Lee said, “I apologize for upsetting people over the issue.”

“No matter what the circumstances were and despite the fact that it was done by my wife, I only have myself to blame,” the nominee said.

Lee explained that his spouse bought the property in Changshin-dong, Seoul, for their retirement.

But opposition lawmakers, including Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae of the DP, said that they could not agree with him.

“You receive 2.7 million won ($2,300) every month from the Government Employees Pension Service and have a monthly income for renting two commercial buildings,” Cho said.

“Why does someone whose wealth exceeds 4 billion won need real estate to prepare for retirement?”

Lee said he would consider making a charitable donation when asked whether he would sell the house to spend the money on the less privileged by Rep. Kim Nak-sung of the minor opposition Liberty Forward Party.

In a separate hearing, Labor Minister-designate Bahk Jae-wan faced questions over phony residence registration and his military service.

Bahk denied accusations of intent over false address registration, though he acknowledged that he belatedly reported the change of his address in the past to the government authorities.

Numerous politicians and top government officials, including Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam and Supreme Court Justice Min Il-young, were able to win the parliament’s endorsement although they had had phony residence registrations.

Under the law, false residence registration is a graver offense than assault, for which a convicted person can receive up to two years in jail. Those who falsely register addresses face up to three years in prison, or up to 10 million won in fines.

When Rep. Lee Mi-kyung of the DP asked why he did not serve as an active-duty soldier, he answered that he suffered from high blood pressure when he had a medical checkup for the enlistment.

Other nominees are also under intense scrutiny.

Culture Minister-nominee Shin Jae-min faces questions over the recent job that his wife held and prime minister-nominee Kim Tae-ho is expected to be queried concerning links to former Taekwang CEO Park Yeon-cha.

Cho Hyun-oh, nominee for the commissioner of the National Policy Agency, has been criticized for his lewd remarks.