As the government announced a reform plan for real estate taxation, past remarks by Kim Yong-beom, the policy chief at the Presidential Office, regarding rental housing have come under scrutiny. Criticism has intensified following a video of Kim's heated response to questions about rental housing, particularly given his reported substantial profits from real estate without actual residence.
Recently, various online communities and social media platforms have circulated a video of Kim's responses during a National Assembly meeting on November 18, 2025. During the session, Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party, asked Kim if he would advise his daughter to live in rental housing.
In response, Kim raised his voice, saying, "Don't say that," and questioned, "How can you involve my family in this?" His agitated reaction included pointing fingers, prompting Kim Eun-hye to retort, "Try to put yourself in my shoes." This exchange sparked controversy at the time, but it gained further traction in light of Kim's real estate ownership history.
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, a 146-square-meter unit in Seocho Raemian, was acquired through a reconstruction right for the Gyeongdong Apartment in Banpo-dong for approximately 400 million won in 2000. It 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 slashes the budget for buffer and stepping stone loans available to young professionals. This hypocrisy makes it impossible for me to support the Democratic Party for life."
The user further suggested that those with stable housing tend to become more conservative, implying that the People Power Party may be trying to force young people to rely on rental housing to gain an electoral advantage in future elections.
Other netizens echoed similar sentiments, stating, "He advocates for rentals for young people but reacts defensively when it comes to his family," and emphasized that actions speak louder than words, urging policymakers to align with the public's perspective.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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