Lee Jae-myung Officially Proposes State Audit
"Design Change Prepared by Ministry of Land's Own Study During President Yoon's Transition Team"
Park Kwang-on Calls for Land and Operations Committees to Address Issue
The Democratic Party of Korea officially proposed a 'state audit' regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway controversy. The party stated that if the suspicions are not clarified even after investigations at the National Assembly and Gyeonggi Province levels concerning the terminal change, a state audit should be conducted.
On the 12th, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, "We formally and confidently request the government and ruling party," regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway controversy, adding, "Let's start a state audit."
Lee pointed out, "The lies of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration trying to cover up the truth of the president's family highway gate are being revealed everywhere," and criticized, "It's to the extent that everything they say is a lie." He explained, "The government claimed that the terminal was changed at the request of Yangpyeong County, but in reality, until February this year, Yangpyeong County was passive about the terminal change," adding, "According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's public data, what Yangpyeong County requested at the time was the installation of an IC. Suddenly, the route and terminal were changed near the land of Kim Kun-hee's family." He continued, "This change plan was prepared through the Ministry of Land's own research during the transition committee period, and it was also the Ministry of Land that proposed it to Yangpyeong County," and questioned, "Was the transition committee's first task to give preferential treatment to the president's family?"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Lee emphasized, "The essence of this incident is that the expressway terminal, which passed the preliminary feasibility study, was changed near the president's family's land as soon as the administration changed," and added, "There are many side stories, but the essence is just one thing. It is necessary to clarify who and why changed the terminal location of a perfectly fine expressway."
He also demanded an explanation from President Yoon on this issue. Lee said, "Although the Ministry of Land is specifically in charge of this matter, the expressway change is a presidential pledge and a major national task under the president's jurisdiction," and stated, "It should not be postponed; the president must answer why, who, and under what circumstances the expressway terminal was changed."
Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said, "Even if the government and the People Power Party cause a commotion to cancel and try to deceive the public, the essence of this incident remains that it is the president's family's highway gate," and added, "Attempts to muddy the waters and shift blame to obscure the essence cannot deceive the people." Park said, "It is a distortion of facts to say that the research company selected by the Moon Jae-in administration proposed the changed route. The route was changed after the administration changed," and added, "We must convene not only the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee but also the Steering Committee to uncover the truth." He further stated, "A special audit at the Gyeonggi Provincial Council level is also necessary," and argued, "If the public is not convinced through this process, a state audit must be initiated immediately."
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