As the government announced a reform plan for real estate taxation, past comments made by Kim Yong-beom, the policy chief at the presidential office, regarding rental housing have come under scrutiny. This renewed attention follows Kim's heated response to questions about rental housing during a National Assembly session, particularly given reports of his substantial profits from real estate without actual residence.
Recently, a video of Kim's responses during a National Assembly Operations Committee meeting on November 18 of last year has circulated widely on various online communities and social media.
During the session, Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party, asked Kim whether he would advise his daughter to live in rental housing. Kim reacted strongly, saying, "Don't say that," and "How can you involve my family in this?" He raised his voice and pointed, prompting Kim Eun-hye to retort, "Try to put yourself in my shoes."
This exchange sparked controversy at the time, but it has gained further traction in light of Kim's real estate holdings.
According to asset disclosure documents from the Government Public Officials Ethics Committee, Kim co-owns an apartment in Seocho District, Seoul, with his spouse. The apartment, measuring 146 square meters, was acquired through a reconstruction project for approximately 400 million won in 2000 and is now valued at around 3 billion won.
Criticism has also emerged on the anonymous workplace community Blind. One user, identifying as an employee at Seo-young Engineering, wrote, "He gets angry when asked if he would let his child live in rental housing, yet he cuts the budget for buffer and stepping stone loans available to young professionals. This hypocrisy makes me unable to support the Democratic Party for life."
Another commenter suggested that those with stable housing tend to become more conservative, implying that the People Power Party may be trying to push the youth, who have already shifted their support, into reliance on rental housing to influence future election dynamics.
Other netizens echoed similar sentiments, stating, "He advocates for rentals for the youth but reacts defensively when it comes to his family," and "Actions speak louder than words; policymakers need to align with the public's perspective."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.