Roh Building $1.27M Estate in Hometown

Cheong Wa Dae announced Friday that President Roh Moo-hyun will build a house in his hometown, Bongha Village in South Gyeongsang Province, where he will live following his retirement in February 2008. The construction is expected to commence in January 2007, and complete in October 2007.

The land located near his birthplace is 1,297 pyeong (about 4,300 square meters) and was purchased by the president late November. A one-story house with a basement floor will be built on 137 pyeong of the estate. Security-related facilities will be built separately.

"Out of the 11 graves on the purchased land, eight have been exhumed and buried in other places, and the remaining three graves will also be relocated at the end of this year," an official of Cheng Wa Dae said. "The house will be a traditional environment-friendly house made of earth and wood," he added.

The new house will cost a total of 1.21 billion won ($1.27 million): 194.55 million won for the land, 65 million won for the design, 950 million for construction and construction-related costs. President Roh will bear all expenses from his personal account. However, security-related buildings will be built out of the state budget, according to the governmental act regarding matters pertaining to the status and courteous treatment of former presidents.

"Since President Roh and his wife have about 600 million won, they will borrow 610 million won from a bank," said Yoon Tae-yeong, the presidential spokesman. "It wouldn`t be difficult for the president to receive a loan since he will receive a pension of 15 million won per month after retirement and he has a (financially reliable) elder brother.”

The construction costs of the house will be 6.93 million won per pyeong, higher than the average, which is about four to five million won per pyeong. "(The construction costs are higher) because the site is mostly in forests, so the land has to be cleared and retaining walls should be built. Additional communication and electricity facilities (will need to) be added," Yoon added.

The house will have three bedrooms, a living room, a study and bathrooms, according to a Cheong Wa Dae official. Samgjung, a construction company in Busan, will construct the house.

"President Roh will stay in his hometown after retirement and contribute efforts in areas such as the environment and ecosystem conservation," the official added.

Cheong Wa Dae says that the announcement was made because unlike former presidents, President Roh does not have a house to return to because he had sold his house before his inauguration. However, some criticized the announcement, saying "The official announcement is inappropriate since Roh still has more than one year of his tenure left."

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