'Property Worth 155.1 Billion Won' Ahn Cheol-soo: "I Am a Man Without a House... I Do Not Increase Wealth Through Real Estate"

Ahn Cheol-soo, People's Party candidate for Seoul mayor. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party candidate for Seoul mayor, sparked controversy on the 22nd by referring to Park Young-sun of the Democratic Party of Korea as "ajumma" (auntie), but quickly dismissed the controversy by describing himself as a "homeless ajusshi" (middle-aged man). However, some critics argue that Ahn, who owns assets worth 155.1 billion KRW, is pretending to be an ordinary citizen.

In an interview on the YouTube broadcast "Lee Bong-gyu TV" released that day, Ahn referred to Park as an "ajumma who owns an apartment in Tokyo," adding, "She is a fully capable opponent."

He then emphasized that he does not own real estate, saying, "(My house in) Sangye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul is a jeonse (long-term deposit lease). I don’t own any land. Even I thought I shouldn’t increase my wealth through real estate, so I didn’t."

After the video was released, criticism arose that Ahn’s expression was inappropriate. The term "ajumma" was criticized as an inappropriate derogatory expression that could reinforce prejudices and negative images about women.

As the controversy spread, Ahn quickly dismissed it during a press meeting after the Economic Justice Practice Citizens’ Coalition (Gyeongsilryeon) policy agreement ceremony that afternoon, saying, "I am a homeless ajusshi."

However, some critics pointed to Ahn’s wealth and accused him of pretending to be an ordinary citizen.

Earlier, on the 19th, Ahn reported assets worth 155.1 billion KRW when running in the April 7 by-elections. Among these, the value of 1.86 million shares of AhnLab stock he owns is 141.732 billion KRW.

Regarding real estate, he reported a jeonse deposit of 335 million KRW in Nowon-gu, Seoul, under his name, and savings of 11.4734 billion KRW under his and his spouse’s names.

Meanwhile, ahead of unification talks with Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, Ahn has repeatedly appealed for support by referring to himself as a "flawless candidate."

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