President Lee Myung-bak and first lady Kim Yoon-ok saw the value of their personal assets rise by about 300 million won (US$265,240) last year after a half million dollars was added from the cash award coming with an environment prize Lee won overseas, government data showed Friday.
The first couple's assets totaled about 5.8 billion won, compared with about 5.5 billion won in 2010. The increase was made because Lee won $500,000 in prize money when he was awarded the Zayed International Prize for the Environment from the United Arab Emirates in March last year, according to the data.
The prize was given to Lee in recognition of his "green growth"
campaign seeking economic growth through environmentally friendly ways. The UAE launched the prize in 1999 to commemorate its former President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a pioneer who turned the desert country into an environmentally friendly nation.
Lee plans to use the prize money for environmental causes, sources said.
The values of other assets of Lee and the first lady remained largely unchanged, including the private house in Nonhyun-dong in southern Seoul, where Lee plans to move after leaving office early next year, as well as the first lady's 1.07-carat diamond and some art pieces.
The asset disclosure was made under an anti-corruption law that requires senior government officials, lawmakers, heads of municipalities and members of local legislatures, and senior judges to report their personal assets every year to ensure there is no ill-gotten wealth.
According to the data, the country's 17 Cabinet members, including Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, had personal assets of 1.62 billion won on average, with Agriculture Minister Suh Kyu-yong topping the list with 3.34 billion won, followed by Public Administration and Security Minister Maeng Hyung-kyu with 3.06 billion won.
Labor Minister Lee Chae-pil had the least assets with 646 million won.
Prime Minister Kim reported 1.18 billion won, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan declared 866 million won and Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin had 1.37 billion won, the data showed. (Yonhap News)
