Allegations have emerged that a senior presidential official engaged in "split ownership" of farmland. The controversy surrounding a Blue House aide's farmland holdings comes as President Lee Jae-myung has strongly criticized farmland speculation and ordered countermeasures.
Rep. Kim Eun-hye of the People Power Party analyzed government asset disclosures and land registries on the 6th. Her findings show that Jeong Jeong-ok, Presidential Secretary for Gender Equality and Family, holds farmland suspected of being acquired for speculation.
According to Rep. Kim, Secretary Jeong directly purchased farmland in Icheon and Siheung, Gyeonggi Province in 2016 under her own name and her children's names. Rep. Kim noted that areas near both locations were designated as development zones after the purchases, suggesting possible speculative intent.
Of the 3,306㎡ parcel at 598 Sanchon-ri, Bubal-eup, Icheon, Secretary Jeong owns 254.30㎡ adjacent to the Bubal Station area development project site. Three years after the farmland purchase, a development project proposal was submitted in 2019. Bubal Station was subsequently included in the Greater Seoul Express Railway (GTX) Line D route in 2024.
Secretary Jeong's child owns 155.60㎡ of a 2,645㎡ parcel at 345-13 Hajung-dong, Siheung. The land was purchased for 32.34 million won in November 2016. Two years later in 2018, the nearby area was proposed as a public housing district. The Siheung Hajung Public Housing District designation and topographic map notice were issued in 2019.
Secretary Jeong reportedly responded to the allegations by stating, "I was defrauded by a real estate planning company when I bought the land and did not know it was farmland."
Rep. Kim stated, "Before branding citizens as speculators, the Lee Jae-myung administration should verify whether senior Blue House officials are not speculation suspects themselves."
According to Rep. Kim, nine other Blue House officials including Lee Jang-hyung, Presidential Secretary for Legal Affairs, also hold farmland in addition to Secretary Jeong.
The Blue House stated, "The principle regarding farmland disposal applies equally regardless of position. The 'nationwide farmland comprehensive survey and sale order' that the President directed at the Cabinet meeting on the 24th applies to everyone equally."
The Blue House added, "Blue House officials will also be investigated under the same standards, and measures such as disposal compliance orders will be taken if necessary. The relevant staff members are currently taking necessary measures in accordance with the recent comprehensive farmland survey policy."