By Kwon Mee-yoo
Mayors, governors, council members and education superintendents newly elected in the June 2 election reported an average of 880 million won ($704,000) in personal wealth as of July, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security said Tuesday.
It said the eight new metropolitan government chiefs reported assets worth 800 million won on average, while eight new education superintendents posted an average 570 million won.
Among mayors and governors, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon topped the list with 5.6 billion won followed by Daejeon Mayor Yum Hong-chul with 2.2 billion won.
Incheon Mayor Song Young-gil registered as being 78 million won in debt as he borrowed some 340 million won for the election campaign.
Among superintendents, Kwak No-hyun, the top educator in Seoul, reported 846 million won in debts, also as a result of loans he tapped to finance his election campaign.
The elected officials reported diverse assets. Kim Gil-yong, a regional education board member in Busan, registered intellectual property rights of songs written by his composer son, including the hit number “Sonata of Temptation” sung by singer Ivy.
Public officials from rural areas included livestock in their assets list. Jeju Province Governor Woo Keun-min said he owns two horses worth 38 million won, while Lee Su-wan, a North Chungcheong provincial councilor, reported 1,300 pigs.
Bonghwa Governor Park No-wuk said he and his wife own 165 head of cattle worth 600 million won.
Jewelry was also registered by many officials. Lee Dae-seok, a Busan councilor, had gold worth 225 million won, while South Gyeongsang provincial councilor Won Gyeong-sook owned gems including diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, worth 170 million won.