[2026 Asset Disclosure] President Lee's Reported Assets Reach 4.97 Billion Won... Significant Gains from Copyright Income and ETF Investments

Increase of 1.88 Billion Won from a Year Ago
Copyright Income from Books Such as "Ultimately, the People Do It" Totals 1.56 Billion Won
Nonghyup Bank Deposits Jump by 1.43 Billion Won; Samsung Securities Account Newly Reported
23 Billion Wo

As of the end of last year, President Lee Jaemyung’s declared assets amounted to 4,977,210,000 won, an increase of 1,888,070,000 won compared to the previous year. The most significant increase was in deposits, which is attributed to the rise in valuation gains from Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) due to the domestic stock market rally, as well as earnings from book royalties. Income from family events, such as his child's wedding, was also recorded at 250 million won. After the asset disclosure reference date, President Lee put up for sale an apartment in Bundang District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, which he co-owns with his wife, Kim Hye-kyung, in an effort to boost public trust in his real estate policy initiatives.

Yonhap News Agency

On the 26th, the Government Public Officials Ethics Committee released these details of President Lee’s asset changes through the official gazette. According to the breakdown, his assets are concentrated in deposits and real estate. Real estate was reported at 2.3 billion won, deposits at 3,064,130,000 won, bonds at 700 million won, liabilities at 1,411,660,000 won, cash at 250 million won, and membership rights at 26.5 million won.

The value of buildings, including apartments, increased by approximately 350 million won compared to a year ago. President Lee's own apartment in Sunae-dong, Bundang, measuring 82.13 square meters, was reported at 842.5 million won, and his wife's share of 82.12 square meters was also listed at 842.5 million won. Both shares increased by 114.5 million won each over the year due to a rise in the official price. Jeonse (long-term lease) rights for an apartment in Gyeyang, Incheon, held by both President Lee and Mrs. Kim, were each reported at 240 million won. The eldest son newly reported a Jeonse right for an apartment in Sokcho Jayi, Joyang-dong, Sokcho, Gangwon Province, at 135 million won.

The increase in deposits was the largest contributor to the overall asset growth. President Lee’s reported deposit holdings surged from 1,583,980,000 won to 3,064,130,000 won. Deposits under President Lee’s name at NongHyup Bank increased by 1,428,250,000 won to reach 1,563,625,000 won over the year. A Samsung Securities account containing 71.24 million won was also newly reported.

A notable point is that most of the increase in deposits stemmed from book royalty income: President Lee earned 1,560,600,000 won, and Mrs. Kim earned 6.07 million won. A Blue House official explained, "President Lee’s book, 'In the End, the People Do It,' is known to have sold quite well." The sharp rise in the domestic stock market also boosted the valuation gains from ETFs, contributing to the increase in deposits. During his presidential campaign, President Lee pledged to usher in the 'KOSPI 5000' era and purchased 40 million won worth of ETF products, promising to invest an additional 60 million won over five years by investing 1 million won monthly. A newly reflected cash amount of 250 million won appears to be wedding gifts received at his son Dongho’s wedding in June last year.

The majority of liabilities came from jeonse deposits related to the Bundang apartment: building lease liabilities under President Lee’s name amounted to 565 million won, and the same amount under his wife’s name, totaling 1.13 billion won. Additionally, there was a 250 million won private debt under Mrs. Kim’s name and a 31.66 million won housing loan from NongHyup Bank under their son’s name. In the bonds section, a 705 million won private bond under President Lee’s name was recorded. Other assets included an Oak Valley condominium membership valued at 26.5 million won, an increase of 2.2 million won. Virtual assets were reported only under the eldest son’s name, amounting to 41,057,000 won in Ripple (XRP), Tether (USDT), and other cryptocurrencies, with the reason for the change noted as purchases made through an exchange.

The number of vehicles owned dropped significantly. Following his resignation as leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, two official vehicles—a 2013 Ray and a 2019 The New Carnival—were removed from the asset list, and two 2024 G80 vehicles were sold. Currently, only two 2006 New Chairman vehicles remain, reported at a total of 2.19 million won. Political funds deposit accounts, previously totaling 104.99 million won, were cleared to zero. The reason for this change was stated as the loss of National Assembly membership resulting in changes to the political fund account.

Meanwhile, after the asset disclosure reference date, President Lee reportedly put up for sale the Yangji Maeul Kumho Apartment Complex 1 in Sunae-dong, Bundang District, Seongnam—which he co-owns with Mrs. Kim—for 2.9 billion won. The Blue House explained on the 27th of last month that the motivation for listing the apartment was "to personally demonstrate to the public his commitment to normalizing the real estate market, as a single-home owner for residential purposes." Considering that similar units in the same complex are listed at 3.1 to 3.2 billion won, the asking price is below the market rate.

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