Yeo Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Visits Namhangang Rest Area
Hong Ik-pyo "Special Act on Itaewon Disaster Must Be Passed"
Lee Jae-myung "Military Should Not Be Involved in Political Controversy"
On the 24th, the Democratic Party of Korea launched an all-out offensive against the government and ruling party over allegations of preferential treatment on the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, responsibility for the Itaewon tragedy, and the issue of retaining the bust of General Hong Beom-do.
On the same day, Democratic Party lawmakers belonging to the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee visited the Namhangang Rest Area, located 1 km from the terminus of Gangsan-myeon on the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, in connection with allegations of preferential treatment on the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway. They raised suspicions that the government handed over the operating rights of this rest area to a university alumnus of President Yoon Seok-yeol.
Lawmaker Lee So-young pointed out, "Korea Expressway Corporation invested a total construction cost of 22.9 billion won, while the private business operator invested only 4.2 billion won and was guaranteed 15 years." She added, "Such a case is unique to the Namhangang Rest Area." The Expressway Corporation explained that they received private investment to create an 'advanced rest area,' but Lee criticized, "If they intended to introduce an advanced rest area, wouldn't it be common sense to implement it at a newly built rest area starting from the building?" She criticized Wizcorp Co., Ltd., which won the project, as unsuitable. Wizcorp already operates four rest areas, all of which are outdated and have no experience worthy of being called advanced.
The Democratic Party plans to intensively raise allegations of preferential treatment regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway and the Namhangang Rest Area during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport scheduled for the 27th.
In the afternoon at the National Assembly, Floor Leader Hong Ik-pyo met with the bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy and promised to work for the prompt passage of the special law on the Itaewon tragedy.
At the meeting with the bereaved families, Floor Leader Hong said, "Even now, there has been no proper explanation of why such an incident occurred, who should be held responsible, and the subsequent apology and related follow-up measures have not been properly carried out." Regarding the status of the special law, he explained, "It has been designated as a fast-track agenda and is currently pending in the National Assembly." He emphasized, "If the government and ruling party just extend a hand to the bereaved families and say they will work together, this matter can be resolved immediately. The special law on the Itaewon tragedy must be passed to uncover the truth of the tragedy, punish those responsible, and create a lesson for our society to prevent such incidents from happening again."
At the National Defense Committee's audit held at Gyeryongdae in Chungnam, Representative Lee Jae-myung, attending his first audit since returning to party duties, pressured the government and ruling party by questioning the issue of relocating the bust of General Hong Beom-do and allegations of external pressure on the investigation of the death of Marine Chae Sang-byeong.
Representative Lee emphasized, "Recognizing General Hong Beom-do's achievements and creating a bust as a symbol of the military or naming a ship Hong Beom-do is a very important matter," adding, "The military should neither be involved in nor entangled with political disputes." Regarding the death of Marine Chae Sang-byeong, he questioned the legitimacy of charging former investigation team leader Park Jeong-hoon with insubordination. He asked, "Do you think it was appropriate to even request an arrest warrant against former team leader Park on charges of defaming a superior's honor?" In response, Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan said, "What is clear is that former team leader Park violated a legitimate order by instructing to withhold transfer," and added, "Requesting an arrest warrant was the right action."
On the same day, the Democratic Party, along with the Justice Party, Basic Income Party, and Progressive Party, submitted a resolution to the National Assembly urging the retention of busts of independence heroes within the Korea Military Academy.
Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Won-sik, who serves as chairman of the Hong Beom-do Memorial Association, held a press conference with civic groups and said, "The plan to remove the busts is an act that damages the identity of the Republic of Korea and a historical war by the Yoon Seok-yeol government to sever the historical link between the national army, independence army, and liberation army." He emphasized, "As demanded by the resolution, the Korea Military Academy should cancel the removal of busts of Generals Hong Beom-do, Ji Cheong-cheon, Lee Beom-seok, Kim Jwa-jin, and patriot Lee Hoe-young, and restore the 'Independence War Heroes Hall.'" He added, "We will also promote legislation to establish the legitimacy of the national army to properly uphold the proud history of the independence war."
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