[2023 National Audit] Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash for Third Day over Yangpyeong Expressway, Contaminated Water, and Statistical Manipulation

Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, Controversy Over Privatization of Namhangang Rest Area
Opposition's Lee So-young "Yoon Seok-yeol Theme Stock Awarded"
Science and Technology Committee, Debate Over Effectiveness of Portable Radiation Detectors

On the 12th, the third day of the final National Assembly audit of the 21st National Assembly, the ruling and opposition parties clashed once again. The Democratic Party of Korea, which won a landslide victory in the by-election for the mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul the previous day, intensified its offensive against the government regarding issues such as the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan and allegations of preferential treatment related to President Yoon Seok-yeol's family-in-law concerning the Yangpyeong Expressway. The People Power Party countered by labeling the Moon Jae-in administration's alleged statistical manipulation as an act of national disgrace.

During the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit of the Korea Expressway Corporation, a dispute arose over the controversy surrounding preferential treatment for the family of First Lady Kim Keon-hee related to the route change at the terminus of the Yangpyeong Expressway. Opposition lawmakers, who had focused on allegations of external pressure on the 10th, raised concerns about the Namhangang Rest Area near Namyangpyeong IC on the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway, close to the alternative terminus (Gangsang-myeon) of the Yangpyeong Expressway, which is under construction and was converted to a private investment model.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-young stated, "The Expressway Corporation had built a building at a cost of 22.9 billion won, but after President Ham's inauguration, it was suddenly converted to a private investment model this year," and claimed that the company that won the bid was considered a 'Yoon Seok-yeol theme stock' during the last presidential election. In response, Kim Myung-ho, head of the Korea Expressway Corporation's sales division, explained, "The location of the rest area was decided before the route became an issue," adding, "The private investment model was incorporated to provide customers with advanced rest facilities."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The ruling party defended the route change allegations of the Yangpyeong Expressway terminus based on the BC value announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. People Power Party lawmaker Eom Tae-young criticized, "According to the Ministry of Land's cost-benefit analysis for the Yangpyeong road, the alternative route was 13.7% more economical than the preliminary feasibility study route," adding, "However, the Democratic Party claims that the figures were manipulated and distorted despite objective evidence."

During the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee and Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee audits, the issue of Fukushima contaminated water discharge was brought to the forefront.

In particular, during the Science and Technology Committee's audit of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, the ruling and opposition parties exchanged heated words over the effectiveness of portable radiation devices. Democratic Party lawmakers strongly protested when People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-joong, who was presiding over the audit on behalf of the committee chair, gave Nuclear Safety Commission Chair Yoo Guk-hee an opportunity to respond to Democratic Party lawmaker Min Hyung-bae's criticism of the radiation measuring devices. Lawmaker Min emphasized that portable radiation detectors are unsuitable for measuring cesium and other substances and criticized People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun for measuring radiation at the Daegu fish market using such a device. However, when Park, acting as chair, asked Yoo additional questions, opposition lawmakers retorted, "If you're going to put on a show, do it properly." The Science and Technology Committee audit was temporarily recessed due to the commotion.

Chairman Yukukhee of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and other attendees are reporting on their work during the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission held on the 12th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

During the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee's audit of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, concerns were raised about seafood safety due to the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, difficulties faced by the fishing industry, and the need to strengthen safety management. Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Jae-gap mentioned the need to revise regulations, saying, "Shouldn't our country also expand the import ban to all of Japan, like China?" Currently, South Korea bans imports of seafood produced in eight nearby prefectures, including Fukushima. However, Minister Cho Seung-hwan of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries responded, "A total import ban would be excessive."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the National Assembly Planning and Finance Committee audit, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a heated debate over allegations of statistical manipulation during the Moon Jae-in administration.

People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Young-seok criticized, "When household income in the second quarter of 2017 was reported to have decreased for the first time in 10 years, the Statistics Korea arbitrarily applied weighted values to the calculation methods and standards, making it appear as if household income had increased," calling the statistical manipulation an act of national disgrace. In contrast, the opposition argued that the Board of Audit and Inspection conducted a politically motivated audit, calling it a 'political audit.' Democratic Party lawmaker Han Byung-do raised his voice, saying, "This audit is clearly an unreasonable and purpose-driven audit, as can be seen from the process," adding, "Looking at the interim report of the Board of Audit and Inspection, I want to evaluate it as a fabricated audit, nothing more and nothing less."