SUWON — Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae reported assets of 3.7 billion won ($2.6 million), ranking third among the heads of South Korea's metropolitan-level governments.
According to asset filings for officials newly elected in the June 3 local elections, released on the 29th by the Government Public Service Ethics Committee, Choo's holdings were the third largest among the 13 metropolitan-level government heads subject to disclosure. Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook topped the list at 5.02 billion won, followed by Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho at 4.28 billion won. The 13 officials reported an average of 1.99 billion won.
Choo's assets grew by about 900 million won from the end of last year. When she registered as a gubernatorial candidate in May, she reported 2.8 billion won. That figure rose to 3.31 billion won when she resigned her National Assembly seat, and climbed again to 3.7 billion won in the latest filing.
Her filing lists 1.05 billion won in building assets, including a jeonse (a lump-sum deposit lease) right on an apartment in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, and an officetel — a studio unit used as either a home or an office — in Seoul's Yeouido district, both in her own name. Bank deposits totaled 2.47 billion won, accounting for a large share of her total holdings.
The increase came largely from returns on a fund she invested in after selling property. Choo secured a jeonse lease in Hanam, then sold the apartment she had owned in Seoul's Gwangjin district and put most of the proceeds into a fund, reaping gains as the stock market rose.
Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education Ahn Min-suk reported 1.82 billion won, the second-largest holdings among nine newly elected education superintendents. The superintendents reported an average of 2.1 billion won.
Ahn's filing includes an apartment in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, worth 407 million won in his spouse's name, and 787 million won in deposits held by Ahn, his spouse and others. Securities holdings were listed at 75 million won. A vehicle and private loans were also reflected in the filing.
Among heads of basic-level local governments, Gunpo Mayor Han Dae-hee reported the most at 3.15 billion won. Yangju Mayor Chung Duck-young reported the least at 290 million won.
Among the 87 members of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, Lee Sung-won reported the largest holdings at 6.54 billion won, followed by Choi Mi-geum at 5.94 billion won and Han Un-ok at 5.07 billion won. Kim Seung-gi reported the smallest at negative 106 million won.
The disclosure covers heads of local governments, education superintendents and metropolitan council members newly elected in the June 3 local elections. Reported assets include real estate, deposits, securities and bonds held in the names of the officials, their spouses and their direct ascendants and descendants.
