Ahn Cheol-soo Targets Lee Jong-seop? "Clear Out All Official Residences for High-Ranking Officials and Make Them Live in Their Own Homes"

Ahn Cheol-soo: "Insisting on official residence shows 'transient' or 'presidential ambition' without local roots"
"I promise to abolish unnecessary protocol including official residence"
Analysis suggests remarks target Lee Jong-seop amid 'official residence real estate' controversy

Ahn Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, is receiving a report on the operation status of the 112 Security Comprehensive Situation Room at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 12th. Photo by the Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, stated, "The transition committee will thoroughly examine the actual conditions of official residences for public officials and work to abolish unnecessary protocol, including official residences."

On the 13th, Chairman Ahn wrote on his Facebook, "Looking at the recent reports on the operation status of official residences for high-ranking public officials, it is far from transparent and frugal," and argued, "Such spaces that waste taxpayers' money should be completely cleaned up, and they should live in their own homes." He added, "While there may be necessary spaces due to the nature of the work, such as the official residence of the Foreign Minister, it is questionable why other ministers or high-ranking public officials need excessively large and luxurious official residences," and pointed out, "It is especially difficult to understand in the case of provincial governors."

Chairman Ahn said, "There is no reason for elected provincial governors, who embody grassroots democracy, to live in official residences instead of their own homes," and warned, "If they insist on official residences nonetheless, it is a confession that they are either transient mayors who have not taken root in the region or governors suffering from presidential ambition who need a space to gather people and prepare for elections." He also added, "At this opportunity, not only the issue of official residences but also excessive protocol for public officials should be thoroughly examined so that the spaces can be returned to the people and privileges relinquished."

This statement came after reports on Defense Minister nominee Lee Jong-seop's 'official residence real estate speculation' controversy, leading to analysis that Chairman Ahn was openly criticizing the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's appointments. Lee was accused of engaging in real estate speculation by owning two apartments in Jamsil, Seoul, and Gwanggyo New Town, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, while living in the Yongsan official residence during his tenure as Deputy Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

However, Lee's nomination hearing team rejected such interpretations. A spokesperson for Lee's confirmation hearing team stated in a press release, "As a representative from Chairman Ahn's side clarified that the remarks were general and not related to any specific individual, it is inappropriate to interpret the Facebook post as directly naming the Defense Minister nominee or targeting him." They further explained, "Please understand that military personnel require official residences due to the professional characteristics such as frequent transfers, remote postings, and immediate response to crisis situations, unlike other public officials."

Meanwhile, a representative from Chairman Ahn's side told Yonhap News in an interview, "This post was drafted several days ago and is unrelated to any specific individual; it is merely a general statement."

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