Choo Mi-ae's Assets Rise 900 Million Won in Six Months to 3.6 Billion Won
Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae declared assets of 3.6976 billion won in her first disclosure since the June 3 local elections, up about 900 million won in six months from the 2.79641 billion won reported when she registered as a candidate based on end-of-last-year figures, according to data released Tuesday by the Government Public Officials' Ethics Committee. Her declaration includes 1.05247 billion won in real estate, such as a jeonse lease on an apartment in Hanam and an officetel in Yeouido, Seoul, along with 2.46505 billion won in deposits (Ethics Committee asset registration disclosure). Her office explained the increase, saying, "After moving her constituency to Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, she sold her home in Gwangjin District, Seoul, in 2025 and invested the spare cash in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in line with the government's policy direction," adding, "July 1 was when stock prices peaked, so the investment gains were recorded at a high level."
The disclosure was part of the regular asset registration process published in the official gazette, covering a total of 1,259 officials, including 563 newly elected officeholders, 586 outgoing elected officials, and 110 non-elected public officials. The average assets of the 563 newly elected officials stood at 1.3542 billion won. The 13 newly elected metropolitan mayors and governors averaged about 2 billion won (1.99339 billion won), a level Choo's assets exceed. Among new metropolitan heads, Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook reported the most at 5.02459 billion won, followed by Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho with 4.28118 billion won (Ethics Committee).
Conversely, the heaviest debt belonged to Lim Hyun-chul, district chief of Nam District in Ulsan. While Lim reported about 2.8 billion won in land, buildings, and deposits, his liabilities of 20.01446 billion won, including 17.62602 billion won owed to K&R Construction, leave him with negative net worth.
Among those who joined the presidential secretariat, judicial affairs secretary Park Ji-young reported the most at 9.21772 billion won, followed by senior presidential secretary for public communication Sung Ki-hong with 8.66347 billion won and senior civil affairs secretary Han Chan-sik with 5.86067 billion won.
