"I wish Director Noh would sell his Gangnam house," Lee Nak-yeon criticizes Noh Young-min's real estate controversy

Criticism Floods from Ruling Party over No Young-min Selling Apartment in Cheongju

Lee Nak-yeon, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by JTBC, captured from the 'Newsroom' broadcast screen.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 7th, Lee Nak-yeon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, commented on Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min's decision to sell his apartment in Cheongju instead of Banpo, Seoul, saying, "It's regrettable. I hope there will be appropriate measures."

On the same day, Lee appeared on JTBC's 'Newsroom' and said, "I hope Chief Secretary Noh sells his house in Gangnam," adding, "Although his son has been living there for over ten years, it would still be better to dispose of it."

Earlier, when declaring his candidacy for party leader, Lee also expressed regret regarding the controversy over Chief Secretary Noh's two-house ownership, saying, "I feel a bit disappointed," and "I hope there will be proper conduct and appropriate measures."

No Young-min, Chief Secretary, is attending the Senior Secretary and Aide Meeting held at the Blue House on the afternoon of the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As criticism continued within the party, Chief Secretary Noh is also reportedly considering selling the Banpo apartment.

In an interview with MBC on the same day, Chief Secretary Noh said, "My son, who lives in the Banpo house, complains that he feels restless and like a sinner," indicating that he is contemplating the possibility of disposing of the Banpo apartment. His side reportedly stated that "the Cheongju house has been vacant for a long time, while the Banpo house is where his family, including his son, resides." If he disposes of the Banpo apartment as well, Chief Secretary Noh will become a non-homeowner.

Meanwhile, in December of last year, Chief Secretary Noh recommended that senior public officials at the level of presidential secretaries or higher who own two or more houses within the metropolitan area dispose of all but one as soon as possible unless there are unavoidable reasons. This was intended to set an example for the government's real estate policies.

Since senior public officials disclose their assets, the deadline for this recommendation was set to the asset disclosure period for senior officials in March.

However, as criticism of the government's real estate policies, including the June 17 real estate measures, arose, criticism of multi-homeowners within the Blue House intensified. On the 2nd, Chief Secretary Noh strongly reissued the recommendation, setting the deadline within this month. Currently, among the Blue House staff at the level of presidential secretaries or higher, there are 12 multi-homeowners.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.