[2023 National Audit] Land Transport Committee's Heated Debate on Yangpyeong Expressway

Opposition: "Ministry of Land Data Submission Inadequate... Minister Must Apologize"
Ruling Party: "Obstructing Audit... Leading Solely to Political Conflict" Backlash

On the 10th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over suspicions related to the change of the terminus of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's (Land Committee) audit of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The opposition demanded an apology from Minister Won Hee-ryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, criticizing the declaration to scrap the project and the attitude toward submitting materials, while the ruling party countered, calling it a 'disruption of the audit.'

Choi In-ho, the opposition whip and member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated in a procedural remark before the start of the audit, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's erroneous claim and attitude that it is better to unilaterally change the expressway terminus toward the land owned by the family of First Lady Kim Keon-hee is absolutely unacceptable."

On the 10th, at the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is responding to lawmakers' requests for data submission.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He continued, "Before the start of the audit, we must receive an apology from Minister Won Hee-ryong for the Ministry's disregard of the National Assembly, obstruction of the audit, and irresponsible behavior of presenting the public with the BC analysis by the consulting firm full of suspicions of fabrication and distortion, which has been ongoing since the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway issue arose," demanding an apology from Minister Won.

Jo Oh-seop, a Democratic Party member, also criticized, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's website discloses the B/C analysis results, stating that the alternative route is 13.7% better than the existing route that passed the preliminary feasibility study," adding, "I don't know on what basis this is claimed. I strongly raise the issue of misleading the public and urge correction."

In response, Kim Jeong-jae, the ruling party whip and member of the People Power Party, retorted, "This statement is an attempt to disrupt the audit even before it begins," and said, "Despite numerous livelihood issues that the Ministry should handle, focusing solely on the Yangpyeong Expressway to lead the issue into political strife is problematic." He added, "Pushing forward with fabrication when nothing has progressed makes the audit meaningless," and argued, "The Ministry provided the B/C analysis at the request of opposition lawmakers, and if there are problems, the truth can be uncovered through questioning."

Opposition: "Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Poor Data Submission" vs Ruling Party: "Real Estate Statistics Manipulation Allegations Must Be Clarified" Counterattack

Opposition lawmakers also launched an offensive regarding the government's poor data submission. Kim Byung-wook, a Democratic Party member, pointed out, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport refuses to provide data and insists that the Gang Sang-myeon plan is better, so it inevitably becomes a political dispute," adding, "Scientific data and third-party perspectives are needed to compare and analyze numbers for normal results, but without cooperation, it turns into political strife, and the Ministry must be criticized."

Han Jun-ho, a Democratic Party member, countered, "Former lawmaker Kim Seon-kyo and former Yangpyeong County head, who have persistently advocated for Gang Sang-myeon, should appear here, but cooperation for witnesses is poor," and said, "Stop calling it political strife and think of this as a substitute for the state audit or hearing that couldn't be done before, focusing on this issue."

Ruling party lawmakers launched a focused offensive regarding allegations of real estate statistics manipulation during the Moon Jae-in administration. Yoo Kyung-jun, a People Power Party member, argued, "Due to manipulation of real estate statistics, public trust in national statistics has hit rock bottom," and said, "Statistical manipulation lowers national credibility and causes various problems, but the more practical issue is that it directly harms the public."

Kim Hak-yong, a People Power Party member, criticized, "Those mentioned as involved in the Moon Jae-in administration's real estate statistics manipulation include former policy chiefs Jang Ha-sung, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Sang-jo, Lee Ho-seung, former Minister Kim Hyun-mi, and former Statistics Korea chief Kang Shin-wook," adding, "If they feel wronged, they should come forward and have the opportunity to say it is not true. Even when the Board of Audit and Inspection announces findings, people do not trust it."

'Quiet voice, avoiding answers'... Criticism of Minister Won's Participation Attitude

During the morning questioning session, opposition lawmakers also criticized Minister Won's attitude in responding. When Minister Won leaned back during the audit, Committee Chair Kim Min-gi pointed out, "You are leaning back and your voice is hard to hear." Minister Won replied, "It's because my back is uncomfortable," to which Democratic Party member Han Jun-ho responded, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should prepare a backrest so the minister can sit forward," repeatedly pointing out the attitude issue.

Democratic Party member Lee So-jeong said, "Before the audit, an economic analysis value was announced regarding the Gang Sang-myeon terminus plan, stating that changing the terminus would increase traffic volume by 6,000 vehicles, but it is hard to understand how a 7 km change, which is a 4-minute drive, would increase traffic by 6,000 vehicles," and repeatedly demanded, "Please provide an answer to this."

Despite Lee's repeated questions, Minister Won avoided answering, saying, "Those with professional experience in road traffic analysis should provide more responsible answers." In response, Democratic Party member Hong Ki-won criticized, "The minister's attitude in answering today is very insincere," and said, "Avoiding all questions in the audit hall, including Lee So-jeong's, does not seem appropriate."

Committee Chair Kim Min-gi then requested, "The minister has an obligation to answer sincerely in the audit hall," adding, "Of course, the minister may not know all specific figures or statistical practical matters, but passing the responsibility to staff for important issues like the Yangpyeong Expressway is not the attitude of a cabinet member, so please provide responsible answers in the afternoon."