The Debate Over 'Yangpyeong Expressway' Heading to the Mountains... When Will Re-discussion Take Place?

12-Hour National Assembly Current Affairs Inquiry... Repeated Political Conflicts
Engulfed in Political Gains and Losses Rather Than Policy Validity Debates

The ruling and opposition parties remain at an impasse over allegations of preferential treatment surrounding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway. The expressway project has also stalled following Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong's 'cancellation declaration.' However, since this expressway project is a long-cherished wish of residents in the eastern Gyeonggi region, discussions on its revival are necessary.

On the 26th, the ruling and opposition parties conducted over 12 hours of urgent questioning at the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway issue, but only repeated political disputes. The People Power Party claimed that the opposition was spreading fake news and rumors, while the opposition raised their voices, saying that the provision of materials to clarify the suspicions was insufficient.

Park Jeong-ha, a People Power Party lawmaker, criticized the opposition for continuing political disputes, saying regarding the urgent questioning at the full Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee meeting, "It was a complete deadlock with no practical solutions." On the 27th, on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's News Show,' he said, "In the end, it was a hollow 16-hour dispute with no resolution," and pointed out, "The opposition failed to present any traces or evidence of actual preferential treatment."

Afternoon of the 14th, the area around Gangsaeng-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, the terminal point of the alternative route of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee So-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker, also emphasized that questions surrounding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway controversy?such as whether there was external pressure regarding the change of the terminus, verification of the Gangsan-myeon terminus plan, and allegations of preferential treatment involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol?have not been resolved.

On the same radio show that day, Lee said, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport started by politically promising to disclose all materials from the beginning, but in reality, most of the important materials were not disclosed," adding, "Some of the disclosed materials were found to be manipulated or edited, and during the question-and-answer process, it was revealed that several explanations given by the minister were inaccurate."

In particular, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over suspicions that if the terminus had been established in Gangsan-myeon, where the Kim family owns land, the family would have enjoyed enormous benefits. Lee argued, "There is Namyangpyeong IC (interchange) less than a 3-minute drive from Byeongsan-ri, where the Kim family owns land, and the JCT (junction) is less than a minute from Namyangpyeong IC," adding, "As a result, one can access the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway within 5 minutes from this land."

Lee also claimed that Kim's mother, Choi Eun-soon, has been steadily purchasing land in the area and that development is underway, suggesting the possibility of apartment development on the Kim family's land.

In response, Park dismissed the possibility of development, saying, "It is designated as a waterfront zone under the Hangang River Basin Act." He countered, "The current Hyundai Sungwoo complex was planned and developed under a district unit plan confirmed in 1997. The Hangang River Basin Act, which designates it as a waterfront zone where development is completely prohibited, was enacted in 1999. Except for military and environmental purposes, no development is allowed on such land."

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is responding to questions from lawmakers at the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yonhap News

However, both parties agreed on the need for discussions on the project's revival. Park said, "The opposition has proposed specific plans, and if these are verified and found reasonable, I am confident in persuading Minister Won Hee-ryong to proceed without using it as a political issue, even as soon as tomorrow."

Lee said, "Even now, Minister Won Hee-ryong should apologize for his political show of declaring the cancellation and resume this project."

Meanwhile, Minister Won Hee-ryong, who canceled the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project, reiterated his conditional willingness to restart the project. He stated that since social conflicts are recurring due to the Democratic Party's 'false agitation,' these must stop before project discussions can begin. At the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's full meeting on the 26th, Minister Won said, "If the Democratic Party stops spreading (the suspicions), I will proceed normally even today."