[2023 National Audit] Choo Kyung-ho: "Yangpyeong Preliminary Feasibility Study Controversy Is Exhaustive... Please Conduct Verification in the National Assembly"

October 19 National Assembly Planning and Finance Committee Audit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho, regarding the preliminary feasibility study of the Seoul-Yangpyeong project, stated, "I do not understand the futile controversy," and added, "If necessary, we will even provide contingency funds, so I ask the National Assembly to proceed with verification."

On the 19th, at the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee audit held at the government Sejong office, Deputy Prime Minister Choo made these remarks in response to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Ju-young's inquiry about the legal consultation related to the Ministry of Economy and Finance's commissioning of a law firm for the re-examination of the feasibility of the Suncheon Gyeongjeon Line.

Lawmaker Kim disclosed the contents of the legal consultation reports commissioned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance to two law firms last August, stating, "Coincidentally, it resembles the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project." According to Kim, after a specific project passes the preliminary feasibility study, the Ministry conducts a re-examination of feasibility during the stage of adjusting the project cost due to route changes or other reasons. When the result shows that the changed project details lack feasibility, the consultation includes questioning the validity of the project plan. Kim viewed it as difficult to exclude the relationship with the Yangpyeong preliminary feasibility study as the background for the Ministry's legal consultation, even though there was no plan to change the route of the Suncheon Gyeongjeon Line.

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Choo said, "The Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway case occurred during the feasibility study stage after passing the preliminary feasibility study, not the re-examination of feasibility you mentioned," and added, "I do not understand why this is being connected to the Yangpyeong issue." He further stated, "Rather than engaging in such futile discussions, I ask the National Assembly to conduct verification through the committee based on data and legal relations," and "If necessary, we will even mobilize contingency funds."