Won Hee-ryong "Complete Cancellation of Yangpyeong Expressway... No Way to Stop Democratic Party's Fake News" (Update)

"If You Are Confident, Accuse Me, the Minister of Land"

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, announced that the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project, which the Democratic Party of Korea and others have raised suspicions of preferential treatment for President Yoon Seok-yeol's wife Kim Geon-hee's family, will be completely scrapped.

On the 6th, after concluding a party-government consultation meeting with the People Power Party at the National Assembly, Minister Won told reporters, "Regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, not only will we review the route, but we will also completely halt the road construction project at this point and nullify all projects promoted by this government."

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is speaking at the practical party-government consultation meeting of the People Power Party's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee regarding fake news about the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, held on the morning of the 6th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He explained, "We cannot waste national power while the Democratic Party's inflammatory frame is in operation," adding, "Because the Democratic Party's incessant petty provocations will continue, we are nullifying the project itself."

He continued, "If this route is truly necessary, let the next government carry out the project," and added, "Regarding that process, I hope the Democratic Party and those raising suspicions will be involved from the beginning in the route decision process, so that only the diligent public officials do not suffer later."

Minister Won raised his voice, saying, "Do not inflate suspicions by writing half-hearted novels based on mere speculation and circumstantial evidence. If you are confident, accuse me, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. I will cooperate with the investigation."

He also emphasized that he would stake his ministerial position and political life if any results emerge from the investigation. He said, "If the investigation finds that Kim Geon-hee's land was there and I had any knowledge of it, or if former lawmaker Kim Seon-gyo requested and reviewed the construction of an interchange during the route decision process and I was involved, or if I received any contact or pressure related to this from the private sector, or if I was specifically reported to or instructed, I will stake not only my ministerial position but also my political life. Conversely, if the investigation proves the Democratic Party's suspicions to be groundless, the Democratic Party should take down its signboard."

Earlier, the opposition, including the Democratic Party, raised suspicions that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport attempted to change the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway route to give preferential treatment to Kim Geon-hee's family. The Democratic Party formed the 'Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway Preferential Treatment Suspicion Truth-Finding Task Force' the day before and visited the site on the morning of the same day.

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