Net worth falls to about 1 billion won after 325 million won in financial debt
Father declines disclosure, citing independent livelihood
Defense minister nominee Kang Shin-chul has reported total assets of 1.13 billion won ($829,000), combining deposits, real estate and other holdings registered in his name and those of his spouse and children.
According to the confirmation hearing request obtained by People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won's office on Friday, assets registered in Kang's own name accounted for more than 90 percent of the total, at 1.01 billion won.
Those holdings include an 84.61-square-meter apartment in Umyeon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, valued at 1.24 billion won; a 2025 Tucson sedan worth 43.97 million won; and bank deposits of 56.8 million won. However, financial liabilities of 325.22 million won owed to KB Kookmin Bank and the Armed Forces Financial Management Corps reduced his personal subtotal to the 1 billion won range.
His spouse reported total assets of 27.3 million won, including a 2019 Tucson sedan valued at 9.74 million won and deposits of 17.56 million won.
The assets of Kang's children were also disclosed. His eldest son holds 71.99 million won in total — 32.84 million won in deposits and 39.15 million won in securities, including KODEX SK hynix and Samsung Electronics single-stock leveraged ETFs. His eldest daughter reported 14.76 million won in total, comprising a jeonse lease deposit of 160,000 won on a residence in Tübingen, Germany, and bank deposits of 14.6 million won.
Kang's father declined to disclose his assets, citing an independent livelihood.
Kang's eldest son, Kang Seok-jun, was commissioned as an Army second lieutenant in March 2023 and served with the 56th Infantry Division before completing his service in June.
Kang was commissioned through the Korea Military Academy's 46th class in 1990 and spent 35 years in the military, holding key posts including chief of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff and deputy commander of the Combined Forces Command. He is a four-star general. Since January, he has served as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary at South Korea's embassy in Saudi Arabia under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kang's appointment will be finalized after a confirmation hearing before the National Assembly.
rimsclub@heraldcorp.com
