Cheongwadae Promised "Zero Multi-Homeowners by August"... Will They Keep Their Promise?

Noh Young-min Chief Secretary "Resolving Multiple Homeowners Issue by August"

The view of Cheongwadae from Namsan, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

As the deadline for high-ranking officials at the Blue House to dispose of multiple homes approaches, attention is focused on whether the Blue House's pledge to achieve "zero multi-homeowners" will become a reality. Following the disposal recommendation and re-recommendation by Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min, the number of multi-homeowners has reportedly decreased from an initial 20 to currently just one.

On December 16 last year, Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min recommended that those owning two homes in the metropolitan area dispose of all but one home intended for actual residence. A deadline of about six months was set. The intention was to support the government's policy to counter soaring housing prices, but prices remained stubbornly high. There was strong public criticism along the lines of "The government cannot lower housing prices when the Blue House is full of multi-homeowners."

In response, on July 2, Secretary Noh re-recommended that senior officials at the level of secretary or above who own two or more homes dispose of all but one home within July. Secretary Noh himself sold both his apartments in Cheongju, Chungbuk, and Banpo, Seoul.

As of July 31, the original deadline for Secretary Noh's re-recommendation, the Blue House announced that there were eight multi-homeowners: former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Jo-won, former Senior Secretary for Civil Society Kim Geo-seong, Senior Secretary for Jobs Hwang Deok-soon, Senior Secretary for Personnel Kim Oe-sook, Secretary for National Affairs Promotion Yeo Hyun-ho, Secretary for Overseas Media Lee Ji-su, Secretary for Public Service Discipline Lee Nam-gu, and Secretary for Small and Medium Venture Businesses Seok Jong-hoon.

The Blue House again recommended that they complete the disposal of their homes within August and submit sales contracts.

During this process, former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Jo-won and former Senior Secretary for Civil Society Kim Geo-seong left the Blue House amid personnel announcements and controversies.

Subsequently, as of the 14th, the Blue House announced that there were two multi-homeowners. Although the Blue House did not confirm their identities, it stated that both are "making efforts to dispose" and expressed hope that the era of zero multi-homeowners within the Blue House will soon arrive.

In fact, one person has disposed of their home, and the other is reportedly still attempting to do so.

On the 25th, Secretary Noh said at the National Assembly's Steering Committee full meeting, "I expect that the issue of multi-homeowners at the level of secretary or above will be resolved by the end of this month."

Meanwhile, the Blue House is deliberating whether to publicly disclose and announce the results related to the "zero multi-homeowners" goal to the media.

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