South Korean ministerial nominees face scrutiny over housing and subsidies

  • Hong Jee-sun defended purchasing a Seoul apartment with mortgage and family-loan financing.
  • The 1.005 billion-won apartment is now valued at about 1.41 billion won.
  • Yong Hye-in retained her proportional seat, preserving the Basic Income Party's parliamentary status and subsidy eligibility.

Hong Jee-sun, a nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is facing People Power Party criticism over a Seoul apartment purchased jointly with her spouse for 1.005 billion won. The couple used a 367 million-won mortgage and a 170 million-won loan from Hong's mother, contributing about 460 million won in cash. The apartment is now valued at about 1.41 billion won, roughly 400 million won above its purchase price. Hong said the March 2025 purchase was intended for actual residence while she was deputy mayor of Namyangju, not speculation, and that she has lived there. Separately, Yong Hye-in, a nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is facing scrutiny over retaining her proportional representative seat and her changed position on state subsidies, which she previously criticized. The Basic Income Party's quarterly allocation rose from about 10 million won through last year to 277.09 million won in the first quarter of this year.

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