Lee Jae-myung Criticizes Cancellation of Yangpyeong Expressway: "Won Hee-ryong's Emotional Decision Is Not Right"

Minister Won's opposition to risking his ministerial position
Lee Jae-myung: "Do those participating in this government like gambling?"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, for announcing the complete cancellation of the Seoul-Yangpyeong highway project, saying, "It is never right for a minister of a country to lose emotional control and make emotional decisions on national projects."

At a meeting with reporters that day, Lee said, "(The controversy) arose because the highway location was moved from Yangseo-myeon to Gangsan-myeon," adding, "If there is no problem, just proceed; if there is a problem, proceed according to the original plan. It is not appropriate to cancel a national project worth trillions of won and decided after years of discussion just because of anger. This is not the behavior of a child."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Minister Won said to reporters after a party-government meeting on suspicions related to the People Power Party and the Seoul-Yangpyeong highway, "Regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong highway, not only will we review the route, but we will also completely halt the road construction project at this point and cancel all projects promoted by this government." Although he stated there were no issues in the process of changing the highway route, he added, "We cannot waste national power while the Democratic Party's agitation frame is in operation," and "Because the Democratic Party's incessant petty agitation will continue, we are canceling the project altogether." Previously, the Democratic Party raised suspicions pointing out that near the changed terminal site of the Yangpyeong highway, there is land owned by First Lady Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, and her family.

Additionally, Minister Won said, "Do not inflate suspicions by writing half-baked novels based only on speculation and circumstantial evidence. If you are confident, accuse me, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport," and "If there was even a slight indication that I was aware of First Lady Kim Geon-hee's land there, I would stake not only my ministerial position but also my political life. However, if the investigation results prove the Democratic Party's suspicions to be groundless, the Democratic Party should take down its sign."

Regarding Minister Won's response, Lee said, "'I will stake my ministerial position'?those participating in this government seem to like gambling," criticizing, "They keep gambling with the lives of the people and the future of the country." He continued, "As public officials, they should do what they must and refrain from what they should not. I hope they stop talking about gambling with the lives of the people and the future of the country."

Lee's remarks appear to be directed not only at Minister Won but also at Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice. During the National Assembly audit last October, Han responded to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom's question about a drinking party in Gangnam with President Yoon Seok-yeol by saying, "I will stake my ministerial position. What will you stake, lawmaker?"

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