Lee Hyung-il, the nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, apologized for not residing in the home he owns. He clarified that he has held one house for a long time and had the intention to live there, but faced challenges.
During a National Assembly confirmation hearing on the 15th, Lee stated in response to a question from lawmaker Moon Jin-seok, "I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the public regarding the non-residence issue."
He added, "I have been a lifelong homeowner and wanted to continue living there, but I faced difficulties."
Moon questioned whether Lee's previous comments about the need to shift the perception of housing from ownership to residence reflected a change in his views or a consistent stance. Lee responded, "That has always been my belief."
Lee also explained the circumstances surrounding his home purchase. Moon raised concerns about the gap investment controversy raised by the opposition, asking about the purchase price and the deposit for the tenant at that time.
Lee revealed that the purchase price of the house was approximately 420 million won, while the tenant's deposit was about 110 million won, resulting in a difference of around 310 million won.
When Moon suggested that the situation might not clearly fit the definition of gap investment, Lee added, "I purchased it without any loans at that time."
However, Moon emphasized that not living in the owned house is an embarrassing matter for the public and requested further clarification. In response, Lee reiterated his apology regarding the non-residence controversy, stating that he has held one house for a long time and genuinely wanted to live there.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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