Lee Gyunyong "Apologizes for Omission in Family's Unlisted Stock Reporting"... "Will Place in Blind Trust if Job-Related"

Lee Gyun-yong, nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (age 60, 16th Judicial Research and Training Institute class), admitted and apologized for omitting unlisted stocks held by his family from his asset registration and declaration.

Lee stated that he was unaware of the amendment to the law and said that if the Stock Blind Trust Review Committee under the Ministry of Personnel Management determines there is a "conflict of interest," he will either sell the stocks or place them in a blind trust.

Lee Gyun-yong, nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the 29th, Lee issued a statement saying, "The 'Public Disclosure List of Asset Declarations by Public Office Candidates' attached to this nomination consent proposal included details of unlisted stocks owned by the nominee's family. As part of my commitment to undergo a sincere verification, I would like to first explain the circumstances."

He said, "Around 2000, the nominee's family acquired unlisted stocks of family companies operated by his in-laws, namely Oksan Co., Ltd. and Daesung Automobile Academy Co., Ltd. These were closed family company stocks with no transactions and were not subject to asset registration and declaration under the law from the beginning."

Lee added, "Since it was a matter of my in-laws' assets, I had forgotten about it, and I was unaware that about 20 years after acquisition, in 2020, the evaluation method for unlisted stocks under the Public Officials Ethics Act Enforcement Decree changed, and that these stocks became subject to asset registration under the law."

He continued, "Belatedly, I accurately understood the detailed regulations such as the relevant enforcement decree and voluntarily included the details of unlisted stocks held by my family in the documents attached to this nomination consent proposal. Additionally, before submitting the nomination consent proposal, I requested a conflict of interest review for these stocks."

He said, "We are currently awaiting the review results from the Stock Blind Trust Review Committee under the Ministry of Personnel Management regarding the conflict of interest request. Although the possibility seems low, if the committee decides there is a conflict of interest, my family plans to sell or place the stocks in a blind trust according to the relevant laws."

Lee stated, "Until now, as a public official, I have made efforts to register and disclose my and my family's assets in detail to demonstrate a thorough and transparent attitude in asset declaration. However, despite this, an error occurred because I was unaware of the changes in the detailed enforcement decree regulations. Even if it was unintentional, I sincerely apologize to the public as a public office candidate."

He added, "However, I want to clearly state that there was absolutely no intention of asset accumulation or similar purposes in holding these stocks."

Lee said, "I take the heavy responsibility of the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the public's expectations for the nominee seriously, and I promise to undergo verification with a humble attitude before the public. I also pledge to sincerely and humbly participate in the verification by the public and the approval process by the National Assembly, the representatives of the people."

President Yoon Suk-yeol submitted the nomination consent proposal for Lee to the National Assembly on the same day.

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