Lee Hyungil Apologizes for Non-Residential Single-Home Controversy: "Sorry for Failing to Meet Public Expectations"

Lee Hyungil, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy candidate, attended the confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on the 15th, responding to lawmakers' questions. 2026.09.15 Photo by Dongju Yoon

Lee Hyungil, nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy, apologized at the confirmation hearing on the 15th regarding the controversy over non-residential single-home ownership, stating, "Regardless of the reasons, I sincerely apologize for the controversy due to non-residence in my property and for failing to meet the public's expectations."

Lee made this statement during the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee confirmation hearing in response to questions from Park Sooyoung, a lawmaker from the People Power Party.

Lee was criticized for purchasing an apartment in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, in 2009 and owning it for 17 years, but only residing in it for four months. This was seen as conflicting with the real-residence-oriented housing policy championed by the Lee Jaemyung administration.

Lee explained, "Around January 2009, while I was living in Pyeongchon, I received notification that I would be assigned to work at BH (the Presidential Office). Because I had to report to work so early in the morning, I decided I needed to move closer and found a rental home in Gwacheon."

He continued, "I chose Gwacheon, where the government complex is located, as my residential area and around April, I purchased a home that was suitable and affordable for me. However, since we had already secured and were living in another rental home, we couldn't move into the purchased property," he clarified.

Lee further said, "The apartment at that time was 72 square meters, without an elevator or underground parking, and was quite different from today's apartments. Many households in the area then were families of four with elementary school children, and I want to emphasize that I purchased the property with the intention of residing in it."

He added, "Since I had no address registered elsewhere, there would have been no way for me to live anywhere but there. I can state with certainty that I did, in fact, actually reside in the property."

He also clarified, "I have been a single-home owner my entire life and held onto the property for a long time. I wanted to keep living there continually, but the circumstances made it difficult."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.