Cheon Ha-ram, acting leader of the Reform Party, raised allegations on September 6 regarding Kang Shin-cheol, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, claiming he acquired an apartment in Seocho-gu through fraudulent means.
During a press conference at the National Assembly, Cheon stated, "Kang secured the status of a demolitions victim through false registration, allowing him to obtain an apartment valued at 2.2 billion won under a special allocation for demolitions victims."
According to Cheon, Kang moved to a military apartment in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, in July 2007, but reported a change of address to a house in Guro-gu, Seoul, eight months later in March 2008. This house was gifted to him in 1997.
Seven months later, in October 2008, the Guro District Office purchased the house in Cheonwang-dong for the relocation of the Seoul Southern Detention Center, granting Kang the status of a demolitions victim. Subsequently, he and his wife moved their address back to the military apartment in Hwacheon in May 2009.
Cheon criticized, "While he served in the military in Hwacheon, he only changed his address to Seoul. In August 2012, Kang acquired an apartment in Seocho-gu, Seocho Nature Hill Complex 3, as a demolitions victim."
He noted that the initial sale price was 520 million won, but its current market value has skyrocketed to approximately 2.2 billion won, asserting that obtaining a fraudulent application through intentional false registration disqualifies him from being a minister.
In response, Kang's team stated, "The address in Guro-gu is where the nominee was born and raised. The remote military residence was only a temporary duty location, while the house in Seoul was his only living base for future return."
They added, "It is true that some administrative procedures were not carefully observed during the process of moving work locations, but there was no intent to falsely register or any illegality in the application process."
During a press conference at the National Assembly, Cheon stated, "Kang secured the status of a demolitions victim through false registration, allowing him to obtain an apartment valued at 2.2 billion won under a special allocation for demolitions victims."
According to Cheon, Kang moved to a military apartment in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, in July 2007, but reported a change of address to a house in Guro-gu, Seoul, eight months later in March 2008. This house was gifted to him in 1997.
Seven months later, in October 2008, the Guro District Office purchased the house in Cheonwang-dong for the relocation of the Seoul Southern Detention Center, granting Kang the status of a demolitions victim. Subsequently, he and his wife moved their address back to the military apartment in Hwacheon in May 2009.
Cheon criticized, "While he served in the military in Hwacheon, he only changed his address to Seoul. In August 2012, Kang acquired an apartment in Seocho-gu, Seocho Nature Hill Complex 3, as a demolitions victim."
He noted that the initial sale price was 520 million won, but its current market value has skyrocketed to approximately 2.2 billion won, asserting that obtaining a fraudulent application through intentional false registration disqualifies him from being a minister.
In response, Kang's team stated, "The address in Guro-gu is where the nominee was born and raised. The remote military residence was only a temporary duty location, while the house in Seoul was his only living base for future return."
They added, "It is true that some administrative procedures were not carefully observed during the process of moving work locations, but there was no intent to falsely register or any illegality in the application process."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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