Criticism of Kim Jowon over "Unbecoming Conduct and Poor Handling" in Real Estate Controversy

'Pretending to Sell' Controversy: Kim Jowon Leaves Cheong Wa Dae on the 7th

Kim Jo-won, Former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As Kim Jo-won, the Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, resigned amid controversy over real estate disposal, criticism against the former senior secretary is rising even within the ruling party.

On the 11th, Woo Won-shik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal,' saying, "If the former senior secretary felt dissatisfied with reports that he listed real estate at a higher price or with instructions from the Blue House to sell housing, that would be inappropriate."

Regarding the opposition party's claim that "Blue House senior secretaries are short-lived, but housing prices rise forever," he pointed out, "(If the apartment is not sold) social criticism against him will increase."

Jin Sung-jun, also a Democratic Party member, commented on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' the same day, saying, "The conclusion was not clean."

This appears to be related to allegations that the former senior secretary listed his Jamsil apartment at a price about 200 million KRW higher than the market value and left the Blue House without leaving any farewell remarks. It is reported that after expressing his intention to resign along with five other Blue House aides, Kim did not attend the senior secretaries and aides meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House.

Regarding the fact that Kim left the group chat, Jin said, "It is difficult to know," but added, "However, it seems true that he did not attend the security briefing meeting. Usually, senior secretaries who are retiring visit the Blue House press room to say their final goodbyes, but I heard that the former senior secretary did not appear there."

He continued, "I think there must have been some necessity or circumstances for him to hold many houses. Also, just because high-ranking officials sell all their houses, it does not mean the real estate problem will be immediately solved," but he pointed out, "Securing public trust in the government's real estate policy is above all important."

He added, "If the privileged class and high-ranking officials in our society own many houses, distrust inevitably arises about whether the real estate policies under that government are truly for ordinary people and genuine buyers," emphasizing, "It is necessary for high-ranking officials to set an example."

Previously, Kim, who owns two houses in Gangnam, was criticized for "only pretending to dispose of them."

Kim, who owns apartments in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, and Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, announced he would sell the Jamsil apartment according to the guideline to "dispose of all but one house," but it was revealed that he listed it at a price about 200 million KRW higher than the market value.

It is reported that Kim left the Blue House on the 7th.

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