Ilsan Bridge to Resume Toll Fees from the 18th... Free Passage Ends After About 20 Days (Comprehensive)

Court Approves Second Injunction Request for Public Interest Disposition Prohibiting Collection

A message stating that toll collection can resume according to a court ruling is displayed on the electronic signboard at the Ilsan Bridge tollgate in Geolpo-dong, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The free toll on Ilsan Bridge, which was the last matter approved by Lee Jae-myung, former governor of Gyeonggi Province and the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, before resigning from his post, will be suspended about 20 days after its implementation on the 27th of last month following a court ruling. On the 15th, the Suwon District Court accepted the injunction request filed by Ilsan Bridge Co., Ltd., the operator, against Gyeonggi Province's second public interest disposition prohibiting toll collection on Ilsan Bridge, resulting in the resumption of toll collection from the 18th.

Ilsan Bridge announced through a notice on its website on the afternoon of the same day that toll collection would resume from the 18th. Ilsan Bridge stated, "Gyeonggi Province notified us of the cancellation of the designation as the project operator for the private investment project and the prohibition of toll collection, and we temporarily implemented free passage from noon on October 27. We filed injunction requests and cancellation lawsuits twice against Gyeonggi Province's dispositions with the competent court, and the court accepted all our requests, suspending the effect of Gyeonggi Province's public interest disposition related to free passage."

Following the court's acceptance of Ilsan Bridge's position on the injunction request against the second public interest disposition, which followed the first public interest disposition canceling Ilsan Bridge's designation as the project operator, Gyeonggi Province now faces difficulties in confidently winning the main lawsuit regarding both the first and second public interest dispositions. Public interest dispositions are measures under Article 47 of the Private Investment Act, whereby local governments cancel the management and operation rights of private investors for social infrastructure to ensure efficient operation and provide appropriate compensation.

Previously, on the 26th of last month, Gyeonggi Province issued the first public interest disposition canceling the designation of the operator to make Ilsan Bridge toll-free, and adjusted the tolls to "0 won" at noon on the 27th. This public interest disposition was the last matter approved by Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, before resigning as governor on the 26th of last month.

Subsequently, Ilsan Bridge filed an administrative lawsuit at the Suwon District Court, requesting an injunction and cancellation of the disposition in opposition to Gyeonggi Province's public interest disposition. The court accepted the injunction request on the 3rd, siding with Ilsan Bridge. In response, Gyeonggi Province issued a second public interest disposition prohibiting toll collection, but the court again accepted Ilsan Bridge's claims.

Accordingly, until the first trial verdict on the main lawsuit, Ilsan Bridge will operate as a toll road again as before. The tolls are 600 won for compact cars, 1,200 won for small (passenger) cars, 1,800 won for medium vehicles, and 2,400 won for large vehicles. Gyeonggi Province has expressed its intention to win the main lawsuit and achieve permanent toll-free status for Ilsan Bridge.

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