Jeon Jin-seon, Yangpyeong County Governor (affiliated with the People Power Party), and other Yangpyeong residents protesting the cancellation of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project visited the Democratic Party headquarters on the 9th. They urged, "Please stop all Democratic Party actions blocking the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway with an interchange (IC)," insisting that the project should proceed with the revised route instead of the originally planned route that passed the preliminary feasibility study. The revised route is near land owned by the family of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, raising allegations of preferential treatment.
About 30 Yangpyeong residents, including Governor Jeon, held a press conference in front of the Democratic Party headquarters titled "Press Conference for the Resumption of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway Project Including Gangha IC."
They explained, "The Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway construction plan that passed the government's preliminary feasibility study in April 2021 was a highway without an IC in Yangpyeong County," adding, "Yangpyeong County repeatedly appealed to the government to build a highway with an IC in our county. Only then could we have a highway with an IC in Yangpyeong."
Governor Jeon explained the process of route changes, stating, "At the end of June, the Democratic Party launched a political offensive by raising issues about land owned by the family of First Lady Kim Keon-hee regarding the route plan that reflected the wishes of the people of Yangpyeong. They even came to the site in Yangpyeong to issue a statement, which ultimately led to the suspension of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project." Earlier, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong declared the cancellation of the expressway construction plan, citing the Democratic Party's political offensive after party-government consultations.
Regarding this issue, Governor Jeon urged the Democratic Party, which advocates for withdrawing the cancellation and proceeding with the original plan, by asking, "For whom is the original plan being pursued?" He requested, "Please sincerely listen to the plan that the people of Yangpyeong want and that is for the people of Yangpyeong." In a Q&A with reporters, he said, "After the suspension, we convened councils and gathered opinions, and there was active support for the creation of an IC," adding, "Civil society groups share the same opinion."
Governor Jeon demanded, "Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung should discipline the Yangpyeong regional chairman and the former Democratic Party-affiliated county governor who caused confusion in national affairs without understanding local sentiment, and discuss this issue with me, the current county governor." Regarding this, he urged, "The Democratic Party should engage in dialogue with me, the Yangpyeong County Governor, about the project," and proposed, "Stop beating around the bush and discuss this issue directly with me, the Yangpyeong County Governor."
Addressing claims that the route change benefits the family of First Lady Kim, he stated, "That is completely untrue," and argued, "Even if the junction (JC) passes through the area owned by the family, it has absolutely no relation to land prices."
Regarding future plans, he said, "It is unthinkable that the project cancellation will not be withdrawn," and added, "There must be a policy change in the Democratic Party for the withdrawal, and we will continue to request the government to resume the project."
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