Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Kim Dae-ji's 'False Address Registration and Rental Housing'... Candidate Partially Admits False Address Registration

Nominee Kim Dae-ji for Commissioner of the National Tax Service, Confirmation Hearing

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] At the confirmation hearing for Kim Daeji, the nominee for Commissioner of the National Tax Service, held on the 19th, allegations related to real estate were intensely discussed.

Members of the United Future Party questioned Kim over suspicions that he engaged in false address registration for the purpose of real estate investment and his children's education, such as manipulating subscription points. There were also criticisms that it was inappropriate for a high-ranking public official to have been allocated rental housing intended for ordinary citizens. The Democratic Party defended Kim, stating there were no legal issues.

Yoo Kyungjoon, a member of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee from the United Future Party, was the first opposition lawmaker to question Kim that day, claiming that Kim had engaged in false address registration six times. Yoo pointed out ▲ maintaining a Jeonse lease on Eunma Apartment despite studying in Canada ▲ after returning to Korea, moving from Eunma Apartment to a Jeonse apartment in Jamsil while his spouse and children kept their registered address at Eunma Apartment ▲ registering Kim's mother under a false address to utilize subscription points ▲ and when his daughter was in the second year of high school, renting a Jeonse house in Yeoksam-dong instead of their residence in Jagok-dong.

In response, Kim admitted to the false address registration for his children but explained it was not to get into a better school, but to help his daughter adapt to school after returning from Canada. He said, "Seeing my daughter worried about adapting to school, as a parent, I strongly felt she should continue attending," and admitted, "I was short-sighted at the time and I am sorry."

However, he dismissed the issue regarding his mother, saying, "I intended to live with my mother in Seoul, but she could not adjust and returned to her hometown in Busan," and added, "I did not receive special allocation for supporting elderly parents."

Yoon Heesook, a member of the same party, commented on the false address registration, saying, "False address registration for educational purposes is highly understandable to the public. Because parents and students have extremely limited school choice options, the reaction is more like sympathy for their hardship," but emphasized strict legal compliance as a high-ranking public official.

She particularly criticized Kim's attitude in his responses, saying, "He brushed it off by saying he was sorry, but isn't that treating the law lightly?" and stressed, "For high-ranking officials, it is important to abide by the law."

Ryu Seonggeol, also from the United Future Party, criticized Kim for receiving a subdivided rental housing allocation in Jagok-dong in 2015 despite moving his registered address multiple times for his children's education. Ryu said, "In July 2015, the three family members all moved into their current home in Jagok-dong, but after about three months, the nominee's wife moved again to an officetel in Yeoksam-dong," and added, "They claim it was all due to their children's schooling, but if that is the case, shouldn't they have avoided entering LH public rental housing?"

He further stated, "Using school as an excuse, the spouse and children were sent to live in a better environment, while the nominee only tried to meet the legal residence requirements to profit from future sales," and criticized, "The Jagok-dong rental housing was never intended for residence and deprived many ordinary citizens of opportunities."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the Democratic Party emphasized that these issues do not shake the nominee's qualifications.

Ki Dongmin, a Democratic Party member, said, "Regarding the sister-in-law purchasing an apartment with some of the nominee's funds and the subdivided rental housing rights, it seems they understood and utilized the system well, but I found no legal issues," and added, "The issue with the elderly mother is also not related to using subscription points as some have claimed, so there is no legal problem."

However, Ki advised, "While there are no problems within the law and procedural system, it may fall short of public sentiment and everyday standards," and suggested, "There needs to be an opportunity for sincere explanation to the public."

Jeong Seongho, also from the same party, emphasized, "Over 28 years of public service, the combined declared assets of the nominee, spouse, mother, and children amount to about 500 million won, and just the nominee and spouse about 300 million won," and said, "Even if the rental housing is converted to sale, it would be about 1 billion won, so I question whether this is a significant flaw."

He added, "He seems to have served with more integrity than any other public official," and expressed support, saying, "I hope he carries out his duties with conviction."

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