[2026 Asset Disclosure] Deputy Prime Minister Baek Gung-hoon Reports 4.3 Billion Won... Spotlight on Assets of Science and ICT Officials

by Kim Jonghwa

Published 26 Mar.2026 00:00(KST)

Eo-Gu Won of DGIST Holds 20.9 Billion Won in Assets, Tops Among Affiliated Institution Leaders

As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Gung-hoon declared assets totaling 4,371,000,000 won, the assets of senior officials at the Ministry of Science and ICT have been made public. Among the heads of affiliated institutions, Eo-Gu Won, President of Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), ranked as the tenth highest among those subject to disclosure, with assets in the 20 billion won range.

According to the "2026 Regular Asset Change Disclosure" released by the Government Officials Ethics Committee on March 26, Deputy Prime Minister Baek reported assets of 4,371,418,000 won. This represents an increase of 233,480,000 won compared to the disclosure in January this year, attributed to a reduction in bank debt from 350,000,000 won to 77,750,000 won, which led to the increase in assets.

Background Hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Koo Hyuk-chae, 1st Vice Minister of Science and ICT, reported 846,625,000 won, a decrease of 4,081,000 won from the previous year. Vice Minister Koo owns real estate including an apartment in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (388,000,000 won), a multi-family house in Dongjak-gu (127,000,000 won), a leasehold right on an apartment in Sejong City (235,000,000 won), as well as deposits totaling 415,038,000 won.

Ryu Jae-myung, 2nd Vice Minister, declared assets of 3,162,069,000 won, an increase of 745,413,000 won from the previous report. Vice Minister Ryu sold an apartment in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, which was jointly owned by himself and his spouse, and currently holds an apartment in Haemil-dong, Sejong City (584,000,000 won) and a leasehold right on an apartment in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province under his spouse's name (892,500,000 won). He also reported deposits of 948,847,000 won and financial assets such as stocks and bonds totaling 507,605,000 won.

Park In-kyu, Head of the Office for Science and Technology Innovation, reported assets of 2,507,280,000 won. He holds a leasehold right on a multi-family house in Jongno-gu, Seoul (600,000,000 won), an apartment in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province (263,000,000 won), and deposits of 1,580,893,000 won. He also sold stocks worth 322,954,000 won, thereby disposing of most of his stock holdings.

Among the affiliated agencies of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Eo-Gu Won, President of DGIST, reported 20,931,986,000 won in assets, making him the head with the largest assets among affiliated institution leaders. President Won's asset portfolio is heavily weighted toward real estate, including land and townhouses in Gunpo and Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, as well as land and commercial properties in Guro and Hongje-dong, Seoul.

Eogwoo Lee, President of DGIST. Provided by DGIST

Bang Seung-chan, President of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), declared approximately 10,498,230,000 won in assets, putting him among the high net-worth heads of research institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Kim Young-sik, Chairman of the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), reported assets of 2,944,777,000 won. Oh Tae-suk, who was appointed Commissioner of the Korea Aerospace Administration in February, reported assets of 497,938,000 won based on his previous position as President of the Korea Institute of Science & Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), marking a decrease of 50,232,000 won from the previous year.

Choi Won-ho, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, declared 2,602,711,000 won in assets, including apartments in Sejong City and Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, which is an increase of 114,472,000 won from the previous year.