Joeunhee: "Lee Jaemyung's 'Underground Gyeongbu Expressway' Pledge Copies My Policy"

"Democratic Party Also Criticized as 'Habitual Plagiarist'"

Screenshot of Jo Eun-hee, Seocho District Mayor's Facebook page

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Jo Eun-hee, head of Seocho District Office, stated on the 8th that "Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stole his policy of the 'Gyeongbu Expressway Underground Project.'"

On the same day, Jo posted on her Facebook, "On the 4th, candidate Lee Jae-myung announced the 'Gyeongbu Expressway Underground' as a presidential campaign pledge," adding, "It is pitiful to see him announce it as if he had been promoting this project all along without changing his expression."

Jo continued, "Former Minister Park Young-sun of the Democratic Party clumsily plagiarized my Gyeongbu Expressway underground policy during the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, and now seeing candidate Lee Jae-myung also copying it without permission leaves no doubt that the Democratic Party is a 'habitual plagiarist,'" adding, "Anyone can easily find the original author by just searching internet news to see who planned, designed, and promoted the project."

She also pointed out that the Gyeongbu Expressway underground policy was planned by herself seven years ago but was not promoted due to opposition from former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. Jo said, "After taking office as Seocho District head in 2014, I pondered solutions for the arteriosclerosis-like Gyeongbu Expressway," adding, "The resulting underground project is a Solomon's solution and a paradigm shift, expanding the current 10 lanes to 32 lanes through a multi-level underground tunnel."

She further explained, "To realize this beyond imagination, over several years, we commissioned research from Korea's top five academic societies, held international symposiums and public hearings with overseas experts experienced in similar projects, and carefully developed the policy together with Seocho residents."

Jo emphasized, "Since taking office, Mayor Oh Se-hoon, unlike former Mayor Park, allocated research expenses in supplementary budgets, and the project is underway aiming for completion in June next year," adding, "The Gyeongbu Expressway underground project is planned by Jo Eun-hee and actively promoted by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon."

She also criticized, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung's Gyeongbu Expressway underground pledge is a plagiarism of Jo Eun-hee's policy. At this level, it is 'pledge theft,'" expressing regret over "the behavior of not acknowledging the original author." She concluded, "I cannot shake the thought that if a person who designed a gate causing huge damage to the nation's assets and changes his words daily without hesitation becomes president, it would truly be dangerous."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.