Chang Ha-sung’s wealth gains 1.1 billion won during Blue House service

The collective wealth of Chang Ha-sung, former presidential chief of staff for policy who quit last November, increased about 1.1 billion won (978,000 U.S. dollars) for one and a half years while he was serving at the presidential office to top 10.4 billion won (9.2 million dollars). Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae is found to have a family member who owns a diesel car that is widely blamed for high fine dust levels.

The Government Ethics Committee publicized in the government’s official gazette on Friday the total wealth owned and reported by 35 former and incumbent high-level civil servants whose positions were changed in November and their family members. The officials involved were eight newly appointed officials including four minister and vice minister-level officials, 15 of those who were promoted, and 12 others who retired.

Chang reported 10.42 billion won (9.26 million dollars) in total family wealth. The figure represents about 1.1 billion won (978,000 dollars) gain over an 18-month period from 9.31 billion won (8.28 million dollars) that he reported at the time of his inauguration in May 2017. The price of a 134-sq.-meter Asia Athletic Village Apartment unit in Jamsil, Seoul, which Chang and his wife jointly own, increased by 480 million won (427,000 dollars) from 1.104 billion won (927,000 dollars) to 1.58 billion won (1.408 million dollars) over the period.

Minister Cho is found to have a family member who owns a diesel car. Only the diesel-powered model of the 2017 Tiguan SUV, which Cho reported as a vehicle owned by his second son, has been sold in Korea. Cho reported 2.042 billion won (1.81 million dollars) in total wealth including an apartment unit (936 million won or 832,000 dollars) in Jayang-dong in Seoul’s Gwangjin district.


In-Chan Hwang hic@donga.com