[Anchor]

A parliamentary confirmation hearing was also held for Lee Hyung-il, the nominee for Minister of Economy and Finance, where controversy arose over his "non-resident single-home" apartment. Facing criticism that this goes against the government's "actual residence-centered" real estate policy, Lee apologized, while even members of the ruling party called the situation "embarrassing."

Reporter Park Chan-beom has the details.

[Reporter]

The key issue at the National Assembly confirmation hearing for Lee Hyung-il, the nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, was his ownership of a single home where he did not reside.

[Rep. Park Soo-young / People Power Party: "There is a saying that 'houses are places to live, not to buy.' What is your stance on this, nominee?"]

[Lee Hyung-il / Nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance: "I believe it is necessary for a residence-centered housing culture to take root..."]

[Rep. Park Soo-young / People Power Party: "During the 17 years you owned (the apartment), how many months did you live there?"]

[Lee Hyung-il / Nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance: "I lived there for about four months."]

In 2009, Lee purchased an apartment in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, for 420 million won, but actually resided there for only four months.

The apartment complex has entered redevelopment, and a capital gain of more than 1 billion won is expected.

Opposition lawmakers criticized that this contradicts the current administration's "actual residence-centered" real estate policy stance, while this reaction came from the ruling party:

[Rep. Moon Jin-seok / Democratic Party: "In any case, not having lived there is indeed somewhat embarrassing before the public."]

[Lee Hyung-il / Nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance: "I am sorry for causing concern to the public over the non-residence issue."]

At the confirmation hearing for Lee So-young, the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, her ownership of a "non-resident single-home" apartment in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, also came under scrutiny.

[Rep. Choi Soo-jin / People Power Party: "So you did not actually reside there for about seven years, correct?"]

[Lee So-young / Nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups: "That is correct."]

Lee explained that she moved to Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, to run for election, clarifying that it was not a speculative "gap investment."

Tomorrow (September 16), the National Assembly will hold confirmation hearings for Kang Shin-chul, nominee for Minister of National Defense, and Hong Ji-sun, nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

(Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Nam Il)